とびこ

noun

flying fish roe (sushi topping)

1. flying fish roe

The tiny orange eggs of the flying fish, used as a sushi topping and as a garnish. The grains are much smaller than salmon roe and pop crisply between the teeth.

とびこの軍艦(ぐんかん)を頼(たの)んだ。

I ordered a flying-fish-roe gunkan roll.

とびこはプチプチした食感(しょっかん)が楽(たの)しい。

Flying fish roe has a fun popping texture.

巻(ま)き寿司(ずし)のまわりにとびこをまぶすと、見(み)た目(め)が一気(いっき)に華(はな)やかになる。

Coating the outside of a roll with flying fish roe makes it look far more festive at once.

Written in kana on most menus; the kanji 飛(と)び子(こ) is rare. Often dyed — green with wasabi, black with squid ink — for color on a platter.

Common collocations

とびこの軍艦(ぐんかん): gunkan sushi topped with flying fish roe
とびこをのせる: to top something with flying fish roe
緑(みどり)のとびこ: wasabi-flavored green roe

Similar words

いくら: salmon roe — large, soft, glossy orange spheres
数(かず)の子(こ): herring roe — a firm block of tiny eggs, eaten at New Year
明太子(めんたいこ): spicy pollock roe — sold as a whole seasoned sac

Related Words

Compare: 数(かず)の子(こ) (herring roe)

Compare: 明太子(めんたいこ) (spicy pollock roe)

Compare: キャビア (caviar)

Related: 軍艦巻(ぐんかんま)き (battleship roll (sushi))

general

Added 2026.8.10 9:22 · Revised 2026.10.6 21:39

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