[NikitahDE]

1. Is the word for salmon and fermented rice wine the same and pronounced the same? (sake).

Is it "sah-kay" with equal emphasis on both syllabals?

[Faungarne]

Uh oh.
Looks like you've entered in the hair-pulling world of Japanese words which have the same syllables but mean totally different things when using ascending or descending intonations.


"Sake" the drink....is a flat intonation. -->
But the Salmon :"Sake" intonation is Up on the "Sa" and then down on the "Ke" like "Neko"
Also, if I am not mistaken, the common food product of salted Salmon is "Shiojake." Flat intonation-->

At least, that's how I was taught...

[themsrsdude]

In spoken Japanese, sake (the fish) can also be pronounced "sha-ke," at least where I've lived. It keeps its pitch.

[joeyCanada]

In spoken Japanese, sake (the fish) can also be pronounced "sha-ke," at least where I've lived. It keeps its pitch.

I had a feeling that that last one may be regional.

What dialect is that?

[Gudronich]

I had a feeling that that last one may be regional.

What dialect is that?

It's not regional, people say it down here in Kagoshima as well.

[bloriMal]

It's not regional, people say it down here in Kagoshima as well.

yeah, everywhere the onigiri with Salmon inside it is sha-ke.

[kavaTeexy]

Here too (Tokyo)...Sha-ke..But both are understood to be Salmon..So is "sarumon" strangely enough....I thought he was the bad guy in Lord Of The Rings...Oh well...