締(し)め

しめ
noun
closing; final dish (of a meal)
food
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(げつまつ)が締(し)めです。
The deadline is the end of the month.
今月(こんげつ)の経費(けいひ)の締(し)めは二十五日(にじゅうごにち)だ。
The expense cutoff for this month is the 25th.
会議(かいぎ)の締(し)めに、部長(ぶちょう)が挨拶(あいさつ)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(し)めはラーメンにしよう。
Let's have ramen as the final dish.
鍋(なべ)の締(し)めに雑炊(ぞうすい)を作(つく)った。
I made rice porridge as the final dish to finish off the hot pot.
飲(の)み会(かい)の後(あと)、締(し)めのラーメンを食(た)べに行(い)くのが定番(ていばん)だ。
Going out for ramen as the final dish after a drinking party is a classic tradition.

Usage

In sense 2 (final dish), 締(し)め is a deeply rooted part of Japanese food culture. After a hot pot (鍋(なべ)), the remaining broth is typically used to make 雑炊(ぞうすい) (rice porridge) or うどん as the 締(し)め. After drinking parties, ramen is the most iconic 締(し)め choice.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.3.10 15:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16000/16134_shime