1.
hot pot dish; one-pot cooking; nabe cuisine
A style of Japanese cooking where ingredients such as vegetables, meat, tofu, and noodles are simmered together in a pot at the table. A communal winter staple in Japan.
冬は鍋料理がおいしい。
Hot pot dishes are delicious in winter.
家族みんなで鍋料理を囲んだ。
The whole family gathered around the hot pot.
日本には地域ごとに様々な鍋料理がある。
In Japan, there are various hot pot dishes unique to each region.
Composed of 鍋 (pot) + 料理 (cooking, dish). Often shortened to just 鍋 in casual speech. Hot pot cooking is strongly associated with the colder months and is a quintessential communal meal in Japan — people sit around the pot and serve themselves.
COMMON TYPES:
- 寄せ鍋: mixed hot pot (various ingredients, light broth)
- 水炊き: chicken hot pot (Hakata specialty)
- すき焼き: sukiyaki (sweetened soy broth)
- しゃぶしゃぶ: shabu-shabu (swishing thin meat slices in broth)
- キムチ鍋: kimchi hot pot
- もつ鍋: offal hot pot (Fukuoka specialty)
CULTURAL NOTE:
The communal aspect of 鍋料理 is central — eating from the same pot symbolizes closeness. The term 鍋奉行 (hot pot magistrate) humorously refers to a person who takes charge of the cooking at the table.