米
JLPT N3
Rice
Readings
On’yomi: ベイ,
マイ (bei, mai)
Kun’yomi: こめ (kome)
• こめ – rice (uncooked)
Structure
Composition:
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Detailed Explanation
Vocabulary
米
こめ
rice
米国
べいこく
USA
白米
はくまい
white rice
玄米
げんまい
brown rice
新米
しんまい
new rice
Example Sentences
米を炊きます。
こめ を たきます。
I cook rice.
米国です。
べいこく です。
It is the USA.
白米を食べます。
はくまい を たべます。
I eat white rice.
玄米です。
げんまい です。
It is brown rice.
新米が出ました。
しんまい が でました。
New rice is available.
Cultural Note
🌾 Rice (米) holds deep cultural significance in Japan — it is not merely food but a symbol of life, purity, and prosperity.
• Offerings of rice are made at shrines and ceremonies to express gratitude to nature and the gods.
• Expressions like 「一粒の米にも神様がいる」 (“Even one grain of rice contains the divine”) reflect the spiritual respect for food.
• The kanji 米 appears in terms like 米寿 (べいじゅ, 88th birthday), where it symbolizes longevity and blessings.
• Its secondary meaning as “America” (米国) stems from phonetic association, reflecting international ties.
• Offerings of rice are made at shrines and ceremonies to express gratitude to nature and the gods.
• Expressions like 「一粒の米にも神様がいる」 (“Even one grain of rice contains the divine”) reflect the spiritual respect for food.
• The kanji 米 appears in terms like 米寿 (べいじゅ, 88th birthday), where it symbolizes longevity and blessings.
• Its secondary meaning as “America” (米国) stems from phonetic association, reflecting international ties.