飴(あめ)

あめ

noun

candy

1. candy, hard candy, sweets

A sweet confection, typically hard candy made from sugar. Different from 雨(あめ) (rain), which has the same pronunciation.

飴(あめ)を食(た)べますか。

Do you want to eat some candy?

子(こ)どもに飴(あめ)をあげました。

I gave candy to the child.

のどに飴(あめ)がいいですよ。

Candy is good for your throat.

Throat lozenges

ポケットに飴(あめ)が入(はい)っていました。

There was candy in my pocket.

飴(あめ)を食(た)べながら、本(ほん)を読(よ)んでいます。

I'm reading a book while eating candy.

Primarily refers to hard candy or boiled sweets. Distinguished from 雨(あめ) (rain) by kanji, though the pronunciation is the same.

Usage

飴(あめ) traditionally means hard candy made from sugar or starch syrup. In modern usage it can refer to candy more broadly, though チョコレート (chocolate) and キャンディー (candy, loanword) are used for specific types.

Types

のど飴(あめ): throat lozenges
水飴(みずあめ): starch syrup, liquid candy
金太郎飴(きんたろうあめ): patterned candy sticks

Common expressions

飴(あめ)と鞭(むち) — literally "candy and whip," equivalent to English "carrot and stick." Describes using rewards and punishments together.

Related words

お菓子(かし): sweets, snacks (broader category)
キャンディー: candy (loanword)

Related Words

Homophone: 雨(あめ) (rain)

Synonym: キャンディー (loanword)

Related: お菓子(かし) (sweets, broader category)

Related: 水飴(みずあめ) (starch syrup)

Compare: 砂糖菓子(さとうがし) (sugar confection)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

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