Learn Japanese Pod with Yoshiko and Alex
Series 02 Podcast 09: How to order sushi
Podcast Link: ​Podcast 09 - How to order sushi
In this lesson you will learn the following:✓​ How to order sushi in Japanese✓​ Useful phrases and grammar for eating at a sushi restaurant✓​ ​Cultural tips for eating sushi

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod1

Vocabulary featured in the podcast
Japanese

Pronunciation

English大将

Taishō(Sushi) chef

サーモン

SaamonSalmonマグロ

MaguroTuna

たまごTamago

Egg

雲丹

Uni

Sea urchin

いくら

IkuraSalmon roe

貫Kan

Counter for sushi

一貫Ikkan1 piece (of sushi)

二貫Nikan2 pieces

三貫Sankan

3 pieces

一貫ずつ

Ikkan zutsu

One piece of each

お願いしますOnegaishimasu

Please

さび抜きSabinuki

Without wasabi

あがり一丁

Agari ichō

Tea

できますか

Dekimasu ka

Can you make it?

お冷やOhiyaCold waterお椀OwanSoup

茶碗蒸し

Chawan Mushi

Egg and custard dish

えんがわ

EngawaFin of flounder (flatfish)

ごちそうさまでした

Gochisōsama deshitaThat was delicious

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod2回転寿し

Kaitenzushi

Conveyor belt sushi

お腹いっぱいOnaka ippai

I’m full刺身Sashimi

Slices of fish with rice

寿司

Sushi

Just slices of fish

つまみTsumami

Used when ordering just themeat of the fish rather thansushi

ガリGariSlices of ginger in sweet vinegar

Dialog 1
A:

大将！サーモン２貫くださ Taishō! Saamon Ni Kan
Kudasai
いB:

はいよA:

雲丹といくら１貫ずつでき Uni to ikura Ikkan zutsu
dekimasu ka
ますかB:

はいよHai yo

YesA:

さび抜きでお願いします

Sabi nuki de onegaishimasu

Without wasabi please.

B:

はいよHai yo

YesA:

お腹いっぱい。大将あがり Onaka ippai. Taishō agariichō一丁B:はいよHai yo

Chef, 2 pieces of salmon
please.
Yes

Hai yoCan you do 1 sea urchinand 1 salmon roe?

I'm full. Chef, 1 tea please.

Yes

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod3

10 Cultural Tips for Ordering Sushi
Here are 10 useful cultural points that will really help you when ordering sushi in Japan.

1. Call the Sushi chef "Taishō"When you order from a sushi chef it is custom to refer to them as 大将 - Taishō. This means
various things including general, boss, cheif etc. but in this context is used specifically to adressa sushi chef.

2. Use "Kan" counter to order sushi.
When counting pieces of Sushi you usually use the counter "kan". For example:
一貫 - Ikkan - One piece of sushi
二貫 - Nikan - Two pieces of sushi
三貫 - Sankan - Three pieces of sushi
四貫 - Yonkan - Four pieces of sushi
JapanesePronunciation

English大将サーモンを一貫下さい

Taishō saamon o ikkan
kudasai

One piece of salmon please
chef​大将マグロを二貫ください

Taishō maguro o nikan
kudasaiTwo pieces of tuna pleasechef​大将たまごを三貫ください

Taishō tamago o sankan
kudasai

Three piece of egg pleasechef​大将雲丹を四貫ください

Taishō uni o yonkan kudasai

Four pieces of sea urchinplease chef

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod4

An important thing to remember is it is not so common to order more than 2 or 3 pieces of thesame type of sushi at the same time. The most common is ２貫 Nikan - two pieces of sushi. It ispossible to say something like this:
たまごを二貫、サーモンを二貫、マグロを二貫ください
Tamago o nikan, saamon o nikan, maguro o nikan kudasai
2 pieces of egg, 2 salmon and 2 tuna please.

5) Use the word "agari" to order green tea
When you want to order tea say あがり一丁 agari ichō. This is a special way to order green tea
that is particular to sushi restaurants. When you order, they usually bring it to you in a cup.
However, in many conveyor belt sushi restaurants it's common to make your own tea by putting
green tea powder in a cup and adding hot water from a tap at the counter.

6) It is OK to use your hands when eating sushi
Believe it or not it is acceptable to use your hands when eating sushi. There is no decidedly
proper way to eat sushi. However, when in doubt just copy what everyone else is doing in therestaurant.

7) How to dip sushi in soy sauce
The proper way to eat sushi is to very lightly dip the meat of the fish in the soy sauce and not
the rice. If soy gets on the rice it can start to fall apart and is not considered the most tasty way
to eat it. Some people even turn the sushi upside down in their mouth when eating so that thetongue touches the meat first. Also, go easy on the soy sauce and the ginger. Japanese people
tend not to drown each piece of sushi in soy sauce. Ginger is supposed to be eaten just tocleanse the palate between dishes.

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod58) Not all sushi is raw
It is in fact possible to order broiled versions of your favorite sushi which is called 炙り aburi.
One particular favorite is 炙りサーモン Aburi saamon or broiled salmon. The chef will take atorch to the Sushi which gives it a delicious seared and smokey taste.

9) Say Gochisōsama when you finish eating
ごちそうさま Gochisōsama means "that was delicious" and you usually say it at the end of ameal. It's common to say it either eating at a restaurant or at someone's house after eating ameal with them.

10) To get the bill say Okaikei kudasai
To get the bill say お会計ください okaikei kudasai. The staff will come to the counter or table
where you are seated and count the empty dishes to calculate the bill.

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod6Hi, this is Alex, the creator of Learn
Japanese Pod. Thanks for downloadingthese show notes, I hope you find them
useful. If you need any help with yourJapanese or have any questions orcomments please drop me a line at
info@learnjapanesepod.com
You can also get the latest info on our social
networky thingies here:

Learn Japanese Pod

https://learnjapanesepod.com

My personal website:

http://alexbrooke.com

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/japanesepodcast

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LearnJapanesePod/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/learnjapanesepod/

Enjoy!

Alex
info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod7