bonitos

Striped ocean fish

Bonitos are medium-sized fish related to tuna and mackerel, prized for sport fishing and eating.

The flesh is darker and stronger-flavored than tuna, often used in Japanese cooking for dried flakes (katsuobushi) that flavor dashi broth.

We caught three bonitos off the coast.

Singular: bonito.

fish

tuna

Large edible ocean fish

mackerelSwift, oily ocean fish
skipjackStriped tropical tuna
stripedHaving contrasting bands

Atlantic · Pacific · schooling · pelagic · predator · forage · gills · fins · scales · aquatic

oceanic

pelagic

Of the open sea

marineRelating to the sea
saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
migratoryRegularly moving between regions

coastal · offshore · currents · tropical · subtropical · Atlantic · Pacific · Indian · Mediterranean · spawning

swift

streamlined

Made smooth and efficient

fastSpeedy, or skip eating
agileLimber and quick-moving
speedyCharacterized by quickness

sleek · powerful · darting · energetic · pursuit · chasing · predatory · muscular · aerodynamic

culinary

dashi

Japanese kelp-based broth

sashimiThinly sliced raw fish
flakesThin, flat pieces
driedStripped of moisture

smoked · fermented · umami · broth · stock · Japanese · shavings · miso · takoyaki · seasoning

Opposites

taxonomic distinction

bonitosbluefin tuna

Large pelagic fish, Thunnus

yellowfin tuna · albacore · skipjack tuna · mackerels

fish size/commercial value

bonitosbluefin tuna

Large pelagic fish, Thunnus

marlin · swordfish · sardines · anchovies

ecological role

bonitosbaitfish

Small prey fish for angling

anchovies · sardines · forage fish · herring · herrings

Phrases

bonito flakesCured fish shavings

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G