1.
mortar; Japanese grinding bowl
A ceramic bowl with ridged interior used for grinding sesame seeds, miso, and other ingredients. Used with a wooden pestle called surikogi.
Etymology
擂る (to grind) + 鉢 (bowl)
Related tool
擂り粉木 (surikogi) - the wooden pestle used with the mortar
Features
The inside has ridged grooves (櫛目) that help grind ingredients. Traditional ones are made of ceramic (陶器).
Common collocations
- ごまを擂る - grinding sesame seeds
- 味噌を擂る - grinding miso paste
- 山芋を擂る - grinding mountain yam
- 白和えを作る - making shira-ae (tofu salad)
Common expressions
擂り鉢状 - bowl-shaped, concave (describing terrain or shapes)