Top: Introduction and Contents >> 4. The Japanese writing system >> 4.2. Kanji (漢字)
Sushi actually means vinegared rice, not raw fish. Sushi comes from sui meaning acidic, like vinegar, su in Japanese. The -shi is an adjective ending. The kanji for sushi, 寿司, 鮨, and 鮓, are actually ateji (当字) (characters given to a word after it was formed).
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