kimchi

noun

kim·​chi ˈkim-chē 

variants or less commonly kimchee

: a spicy, pungent vegetable dish that consists of one or more pickled and fermented vegetables and especially napa cabbage and radishes with various seasonings (such as garlic, red chili pepper, ginger, scallions, and anchovy paste) and that is the national dish of South Korea

To Koreans, life without "kimchi"—that spicy, fermented pickled vegetable mixture, which accompanies every Korean meal—is unthinkable.

—K. Connie Kang

Korean buckwheat noodles have more of a kick, often delivered with a little spicy kimchi.

—David Tanis

Examples of kimchi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

People with high blood pressure should consult a doctor before adding large amounts of kimchi to their diet. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025

The Buddhist nun and chef Jeong Kwan buried pots of kimchi in the ground, to be opened only when the Biennale ends. —Dada Jovanovic, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025

Dollop on a bit of ssamjang and whatever other accoutrements float your boat, like a spoonful of rice to fill out your bite, some pa-muchim to add crunch and acid, or any banchan or kimchi. —Irene Yoo september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025

While China and Japan both have versions of kimchi, those nations' dishes are more likely to be pickled, skipping the full fermentation process. —New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Korean kimch'i

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above