生卵(なまたまご)

A compound of 生(なま) (raw) + 卵(たまご) (egg). Eating raw eggs is a distinctively Japanese food practice that surprises many visitors from abroad.

Common collocations

• 生卵(なまたまご)をかける: to pour raw egg (over rice)
• 生卵(なまたまご)をつける: to dip food in raw egg
• 生卵(なまたまご)を割(わ)る: to crack a raw egg

Cultural note

Japan's strict egg hygiene standards (衛生(えいせい)管理(かんり)) make raw eggs safe to consume. The most iconic use is 卵(たまご)かけご飯(はん) (often abbreviated TKG) — hot rice topped with a raw egg and 醤油(しょうゆ). Raw egg is also the standard dipping sauce for すき焼(や)き.

Related words

• 卵(たまご): egg (general)
• ゆで卵(たまご): boiled egg
• 目玉焼(めだまや)き: fried egg (sunny-side up)