1.
closing; wrapping up; deadline
The act of closing, concluding, or finalizing something. Often used for deadlines, account closing periods, or the conclusion of an event.
月末が締めです。
The deadline is the end of the month.
今月の経費の締めは二十五日だ。
The expense cutoff for this month is the 25th.
会議の締めに、部長が挨拶をした。
The department head gave a closing remark at the end of the meeting.
2.
final dish (of a meal or drinking session)
The last course eaten at the end of a meal or drinking party, typically a carbohydrate-heavy dish like rice, noodles, or rice porridge served to finish off a hot pot or izakaya session.
締めはラーメンにしよう。
Let's have ramen as the final dish.
鍋の締めに雑炊を作った。
I made rice porridge as the final dish to finish off the hot pot.
飲み会の後、締めのラーメンを食べに行くのが定番だ。
Going out for ramen as the final dish after a drinking party is a classic tradition.
USAGE:
In sense 2 (final dish), 締め is a deeply rooted part of Japanese food culture. After a hot pot (鍋), the remaining broth is typically used to make 雑炊 (rice porridge) or うどん as the 締め. After drinking parties, ramen is the most iconic 締め choice.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 締めの一杯 (the final bowl — of ramen, etc.)
- 締め切り (deadline — a related but separate word)
- 月締め (monthly closing — for accounting)
- 鍋の締め (final dish after hot pot)
- 締めのラーメン (ramen to finish off a night out)