yakitori
C2Culinary, informal, food writing
Definition
Meaning
A Japanese dish of small pieces of chicken grilled on a skewer, often glazed with a soy-based sauce.
Can refer more generally to any skewered, grilled food in Japanese cuisine, though chicken is the default.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a loanword from Japanese (yaki = grilled, tori = bird). In English, it denotes both the cooking method and the finished dish. It is typically considered a specific food item, not a cooking technique in general conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Conveys authenticity and specific Japanese cuisine. Equally associated with izakaya (pub) fare and street food.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to greater prevalence of Japanese restaurant chains, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
We ate [yakitori].They served [us] [yakitori].The menu featured [yakitori].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none specific to this word]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hospitality, food import/export, or restaurant management contexts.
Academic
Rare, might appear in culinary history, anthropology, or food studies papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing dining out, Japanese food, or cooking at home.
Technical
Used in professional culinary contexts specifying cooking methods and menu design.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [none – not used as a verb]
American English
- [none – not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [none]
American English
- [none]
adjective
British English
- [none – not used attributively as a standard adjective]
American English
- [none – not used attributively as a standard adjective]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like yakitori.
- This is yakitori.
- We ordered chicken yakitori at the Japanese restaurant.
- Do you want to try some yakitori?
- The yakitori, glazed with a sweet soy sauce, was the highlight of the meal.
- He expertly grilled the yakitori over charcoal.
- The izakaya's speciality was its negima yakitori, made with chicken thigh and spring onion.
- Yakitori embodies the Japanese principle of appreciating simple ingredients prepared with meticulous care.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'YA' (as in 'yeah!') + 'KI' (key to good food) + 'TORY' (sounds like 'story') - 'Yeah, the key to a good food story is yakitori!'
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS AN EXPERIENCE; JAPANESE CUISINE IS AUTHENTICITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation or association with unrelated Russian words. It is a fixed loanword.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'teriyaki' (a cooking glaze/sauce).
- Pronouncing the 'tori' as in 'torii' (shrine gate).
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'two yakitoris' – better: 'two yakitori skewers').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of yakitori?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. While 'tori' means bird/chicken, some restaurants may offer 'yakitori' of other meats or vegetables, but chicken is the default and most traditional.
No, it is culturally specific. Using it for, say, Greek souvlaki would be incorrect and seen as a misappropriation of the term.
Yakitori refers to the skewered and grilled dish itself. Teriyaki refers to a cooking method (glazing with a sweet soy-based sauce) that can be used on yakitori but also on other proteins like fish or beef.
It spans both. It is common as casual street food or izakaya fare, but can also be prepared with high-quality ingredients and technique in upscale restaurants.