1.
sea bream; red snapper
A prized fish in Japanese cuisine, especially the red sea bream (真鯛). Considered an auspicious food and traditionally served at celebrations such as New Year, weddings, and other festive occasions.
お祝いに鯛を焼いた。
We grilled sea bream for the celebration.
鯛の刺身は身がしまっていて美味しい。
Sea bream sashimi has firm flesh and is delicious.
お正月には尾頭つきの鯛を用意して、家族みんなでお祝いをする。
For New Year's, we prepare a whole sea bream with head and tail and celebrate together as a family.
One of the most culturally significant fish in Japan. The red color and the name's phonetic link to めでたい (auspicious) make it the quintessential celebratory food.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 鯛の刺身 (sea bream sashimi)
- 鯛の塩焼き (salt-grilled sea bream)
- 鯛めし (sea bream rice)
- 鯛焼き (fish-shaped pastry, named after the shape)
- 尾頭つきの鯛 (whole sea bream with head and tail)
PROVERB:
腐っても鯛 — Even when rotten, it's still a sea bream. Meaning: something of high quality retains its value even in decline.
USAGE NOTES:
The most prized variety is 真鯛 (red sea bream). 鯛 alone usually refers to 真鯛. The word appears in many compound fish names (e.g., 金目鯛, 黒鯛) even for fish that are not true sea bream.