1.
(counter) piece of sushi (especially nigiri)
Used after a number to count individual pieces of sushi, typically nigiri. Standard in sushi restaurants and on menus.
マグロを二貫注文した。
I ordered two pieces of tuna sushi.
このセットは十貫入っている。
This set contains ten pieces of sushi.
大将、今日のおすすめを五貫握ってください。
Chef, please make me five pieces of today's recommendation.
A counter used almost exclusively in sushi contexts. Origin is debated, but it likely comes from older units of weight or coinage. A piece of nigiri sushi is sometimes (originally) two pieces served together as one 貫, but modern usage treats one piece as one 貫.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一貫, 二貫, 三貫: 1, 2, 3 pieces (counting changes with sound shifts)
- 一人前十貫: ten pieces per serving
- 握り寿司二貫: two pieces of nigiri sushi
USAGE NOTE:
For maki rolls (cut rolls), the counter is usually 切れ or 本 (for the whole roll). 貫 is reserved mainly for nigiri.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 個: piece (general counter) — works for sushi too in casual speech but lacks the specialist feel
- 人前: portion; serving — for full sets, not individual pieces