WORD DETAIL
魚介
ぎょかい
Examples
Included kanji
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
魚介(ぎょかい) is a collective noun for fish and shellfish considered together as food. - Basic usage:
新鮮な魚介を買うmakes fresh seafood the market purchase, while魚介のうまみspecifies the source of savory flavor brought out in soup.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Seafood ingredients and their flavor
魚介is a collective category, not one fish.魚介のうまみis flavor derived from those ingredients; it does not use the same noun for both the seafood and the taste.

