kimchi

American  

[kim-chee] / ˈkɪm tʃi /

Or kimchee

noun

1. Korean Cooking. a spicy pickled or fermented mixture containing cabbage, onions, and sometimes fish, variously seasoned, as with garlic, horseradish, red peppers, and ginger.

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Etymology

Origin of kimchi

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Korean kimch'i, hypercorrection of cimch'i, earlier timchoy, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese chén “steeped” + cày “vegetables”

Example Sentences

While undergoing treatment, his mother became a fixture in the kitchen, helping on the line and tending to pots of fermenting kimchi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

As of 2025, sales of fermented products, such as sauerkraut and kimchi, have increased as more Americans seek to improve their overall gut health, The Wall Street Journal reported in November.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

The results also suggest that kimchi may benefit not only metabolic health but immune health as well.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

Scientists have found that regular kimchi consumption supports the body's ability to defend against threats without triggering unnecessary immune activity.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

I had leftover kimchi and a cold bagel with cream cheese, which is what Mom gives me when she forgets to make my lunch the day before.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff