塩

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 塩を少し入れてください。▶ —
   Please add a little salt.
2. 塩辛い料理は体に良くない。▶ —
   Salty food is not good for the body.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Shio (塩) is "salt" — the second of the five basic Japanese seasonings (sa-shi-su-se-so: sa = sugar, shi = salt, su = vinegar, se = shouyu, so = miso). Shio raamen is one of the four classic ramen styles (shio, miso, shouyu, tonkotsu) — the lightest clear broth. Shio koshou is salt-and-pepper, the Western basic. Enbun (塩分, salt content) is the Sino-Japanese word for nutrition — "enbun hikaeme" = low-salt. Homophone with 潮 (shio, tide). Salt also carries purification meaning (o-kiyome no shio) in shrine rituals.

Quick check

1. Meaning of the "sa-shi-su-se-so" order in Japanese cooking?

   • Five seasonings + recommended adding order (sugar → salt → vinegar → shouyu → miso)
   • Five meal stages
   • Five seasons
   • Five tableware items