mirin
UK[ˈmɪrɪn]US[ˈmɪrɪn]
n
A sweet Japanese rice wine used primarily as a cooking ingredient, especially in sauces and glazes.
Etymology
The word 'mirin' is a direct borrowing from Japanese, entering the English lexicon in the 20th century alongside growing global interest in Japanese cuisine. In Japanese, it is written with the kanji characters 味 (mi, meaning "taste") and 醂 (rin, referring to a type of sweet alcoholic drink). The term describes a specific sweet, syrupy rice wine with low alcohol content, traditionally brewed from glutinous rice. Its adoption into English reflects the culinary globalization where specific, culturally unique ingredients retain their original names for precise identification.
Analysis
This is a loanword from Japanese (味醂). It is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes using the English spelling system.
Examples
The teriyaki sauce recipe calls for a quarter cup of mirin.
For a authentic flavor, mirin is essential in many Japanese soups and marinades.
You can find mirin in the Asian foods section of most large supermarkets.