Yakiniku
/ˌjɑːkiˈniːkuː/noun
Japanese-style grilled meat, especially bite-sized meat cooked at the table.
Did you know?Yakiniku is a Japanese term popularized in the 20th century, and its exact meaning shifted with modern barbecue culture rather than coming from an ancient ritual word.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Japanese roots
Japanese
yaki
“grilled, roasted, or burned”
Classical Japanese roots
Japanese
niku
“flesh or meat”
Early 20th Century
Japanese
yakiniku
“grilled meat; Japanese-style barbecue”
Mid-20th Century
Japanese
yakiniku
“table-grilled meat dishes served in restaurants”
Modern English
English
yakiniku
“Japanese barbecue, especially meat grilled at the table”