飴(あめ)

あめ
noun
candy
1. candy, hard candy, sweets
A sweet confection, typically hard candy made from sugar. Different from 雨 (ame, 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.

SCOPE:
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.

COMMON 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

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

RELATED TERMS:

  • お菓子(かし): sweets, snacks (broader category)
  • キャンディー: candy (loanword)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:44 · Revised 2026.3.26 10:40
00500/00687_ame