お握り

Japanese

Kanji in this term
握
にぎ Grade: S
kun'yomi

Alternative spellings
御握り 御握

お握り: salmon onigiri

Etymology

Compound of お (o-, honorific prefix) +‎ 握り (nigiri, “grasp, grip, handful”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem form”) of verb 握る (nigiru, “to grasp, to grip, to squeeze in one's hand”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) おにぎり [òníꜜgìrì] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [o̞ɲ̟iɡʲiɾʲi]

Noun

お握(にぎ)り • (onigiri) 

1. (childish) a closing or grasping of one's hand
2. a rice ball (from the way the ball is formed by squeezing a handful of rice in one's hands)

   Synonyms: お結び (omusubi), 握り飯 (nigiri meshi)

   Vaguely similar to a sandwich in concept, but smaller and less filling. Typically has something in the center, or mixed into the rice, such as an 梅干し (umeboshi, “pickled plum”), tuna salad, salmon, chicken teriyaki, or some other savory ingredient. Often wrapped in 海苔 (nori, “a sheet of roasted seaweed”), either entirely, or with a strip. Traditionally triangular.