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kimbap

American  
[keem-bop] / ˈkimˌbɒp /
Or gimbap

noun

Korean Cooking.
  1. boiled short-grain rice seasoned with sesame oil, cooled, and rolled in a seaweed wrapper with stir-fried vegetables and other cooked ingredients, as thin slices of sautéed beef, scrambled egg, canned tuna, or crabmeat, creating a cylinder-shaped roll that is sliced into bite-size pieces.


Etymology

Origin of kimbap

First recorded in 1965–70; from Korean kimbap, gimbap, equivalent to gim “an edible seaweed, nori” + -bap “cooked rice”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

She loves to eat kimbap and tteokbokki, earns excellent grades in school and has an impeccable sense of fashion.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 22, 2025

The most recognizable food is kimbap – rice, vegetables, pickles and protein rolled up in sheet of dried seaweed – which is seen in many k-dramas, including “Squid Game.”

From Salon Jun. 27, 2025

Applehans is married to Korean American author Maureen Goo, who provided inspiration to how Rumi is seen practically inhaling a roll of kimbap instead of eating it one at a time in slices.

From Salon Jun. 27, 2025

Nearby, Bunsik serves kimbap, bibimbap, tteokbokki rice cakes and other Korean street food, and Mix Sushi Bar serves rolls and poke bowls.

From Seattle Times Apr. 6, 2024

My kimbap is beautiful, sliced into neat disks that I can’t wait to devour.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

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