麦(むぎ)

むぎ
noun
wheat; barley; grain
1. wheat; barley; grain
A general term for cereal grains including wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
麦(むぎ)畑(ばたけ)。
A wheat field.
麦茶(むぎちゃ)を飲(の)む。
To drink barley tea.
麦(むぎ)ご飯(はん)。
Rice mixed with barley.
この麦(むぎ)は秋(あき)に植(う)えます。
This wheat is planted in autumn.
夏(なつ)になると、麦(むぎ)わら帽子(ぼうし)をかぶって麦(むぎ)畑(ばたけ)を歩(ある)いた。
When summer came, I would put on a straw hat and walk through the wheat fields.

麦(むぎ) is a general term covering several cereal grains. Unlike English, which distinguishes wheat, barley, oats, and rye with separate words, Japanese uses 麦(むぎ) as the umbrella term.

TYPES:

  • 小麦(こむぎ): wheat (most common in bread, noodles)
  • 大麦(おおむぎ): barley (used for tea, beer)
  • 燕麦(えんばく): oats
  • ライ麦(むぎ): rye

COMMON PRODUCTS:

  • 麦茶(むぎちゃ): barley tea (a staple cold drink in summer)
  • 麦(むぎ)ご飯(はん): rice cooked with barley
  • 麦(むぎ)わら帽子(ぼうし): straw hat
  • 麦(むぎ)畑(ばたけ): wheat/barley field

CULTURE:
麦茶(むぎちゃ) is one of the most common beverages in Japanese households, especially during summer.

Related Words

Related: 米(こめ) (rice (grain))
core
Added 2026.1.16 15:00 · Revised 2026.4.4 11:26
05000/05427_mugi