Wasabi is a Japanese plant and, more commonly, the hot green condimentA sauce or seasoning added to food for extra flavor. made from its root. In English, people usually mean the paste or powderA dry substance made of tiny loose particles. served with sushiJapanese rice dish often served with raw fish or vegetables. and other raw fish dishes.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /wɑˈsɑbi/

Easy pronunciation: wah-SAH-bee (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress the second syllable.

Use the condiment/root sense: the hot green Japanese paste or powder served with sushi.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Wasabi Meaning

the hot green Japanese condiment served with sushi

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the thick green root of the wasabi plant that is used in cooking, often as a paste or powder served with raw fish

Example: She added a little wasabi to her sushi for extra heat.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Wasabi

Meaning 2

a plant that produces wasabi used in cooking

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a Japanese plant with a thick green root

Example: Wasabi is difficult to grow outside Japan.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• People often use wasabi to mean the green paste served with sushi, but the word can also refer to the plant itself.
• Real wasabi is often confused with horseradish dyed green.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does wasabi mean?

Wasabi usually means the hot green condiment served with sushi. It can also refer to the Japanese plant that this condiment comes from.

Is wasabi a plant or a sauce?

It can mean both, but in everyday English it usually refers to the paste or powder used as a condiment.

What is wasabi used for?

Wasabi is used in Japanese cooking, especially as a spicy condiment for sushi and raw fish.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.