sakana

Sakana is the Japanese word for fish. It is the general term used to refer to fish as an animal and as food, and it is written with the kanji 魚. In everyday Japanese, sakana covers many species of fish, regardless of how they are prepared.

In culinary and dietary contexts, sakana appears on menus, in recipes, and in discussions of seafood. It denotes the broad category of edible fish rather than a specific species and is often contrasted with other food categories such as meat or shellfish in explanatory contexts.

As a proper noun, Sakana can be a Japanese surname or given name. It may also appear in fictional works, brand names, or place names, reflecting the general meaning of fish.

Etymology and writing: The character 魚 means "fish" and has been used in Japanese for centuries. The word sakana is a native term for fish.

See also: Fish; Japanese cuisine.