1.
to sharpen, to grind, to whet
To make a blade sharp by rubbing against a stone or other abrasive.
包丁を研ぐ。
To sharpen a kitchen knife.
刀を研ぐ職人を見た。
I saw a craftsman sharpening a sword.
はさみを研いだ。
I sharpened the scissors.
切れなくなった包丁を研いでもらった。
I had my dull knife sharpened.
2.
to wash, to rinse (rice)
To wash rice by rubbing it in water before cooking.
米を研いでから炊飯器に入れる。
Wash the rice before putting it in the rice cooker.
米を三回研いだ。
I washed the rice three times.
ごはんを炊く前に米を研がなければならない。
You have to wash the rice before cooking it.
母に米の研ぎ方を教えてもらった。
My mother taught me how to wash rice.
最近は無洗米を使うので米を研がなくていい。
Recently I use no-wash rice, so I don't have to wash it.
TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞 (transitive). No common pair. Pattern: Xを研ぐ (to sharpen/wash X).
ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing action. 研いでいる = 'is sharpening/washing.'
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 包丁を研ぐ (to sharpen a knife)
- 米を研ぐ (to wash rice)
- 砥石で研ぐ (to sharpen with a whetstone)
RELATED TERMS:
- 砥石 - whetstone
- 研ぎ器 - sharpener
- 無洗米 - no-wash rice
NOTE: The rice-washing meaning (米を研ぐ) is very common in everyday Japanese. Modern rice cookers often use 無洗米 that doesn't need washing.