ガリ

がり
noun
pickled ginger (served with sushi)
1. gari; pickled ginger (the kind served with sushi)
Thin slices of young ginger pickled in sweetened vinegar, pale pink to white in color. Served alongside sushi as a palate cleanser between pieces. Originally sushi-restaurant jargon (gyoukai-yougo) that has entered general use.
ガリをひと()(くち)()れた。
I put a piece of pickled ginger in my mouth.
寿司(すし)にはガリと緑茶(りょくちゃ)()いてくる。
The sushi comes with pickled ginger and green tea.
(つぎ)のネタを()べる(まえ)に、ガリで口直(くちなお)しをするのが(つう)()(かた)だ。
Cleansing the palate with pickled ginger before the next piece is the connoisseur's way to eat sushi.

Originally sushi-restaurant slang (業界用語(ぎょうかいようご)). The name is said to come from the gari-gari sound made when chewing or slicing the firm ginger. The standard term is 甘酢(あまず)生姜(しょうが) ("sweet-vinegar ginger"), but ガリ is far more common in everyday use.

FUNCTION:
Gari is a palate cleanser eaten between pieces of sushi to refresh the mouth, not a topping to be placed on the sushi itself.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ガリをつまむ: to nibble on pickled ginger
  • ガリを()べる: to eat pickled ginger
  • ガリで口直(くちなお)しする: to cleanse the palate with gari
  • ()わりのガリ: a refill of pickled ginger

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (べに)しょうが: red pickled ginger — bright red, finely cut; topping for 牛丼(ぎゅうどん), ()きそば, etc.; different style and use
  • 新生姜(しんしょうが): young ginger — the raw ingredient ガリ is made from