1.
barley
A cereal grain (Hordeum vulgare) widely cultivated for food and brewing. In Japan, barley is used to make mugicha (barley tea), shochu, miso, and various foods.
Similar words
大麦 (barley) vs 小麦 (wheat): Despite the names using 大 (big) and 小 (small), the distinction is not about size. 大麦 is barley and 小麦 is wheat — two different grains. 麦 alone is a general term for cereal grains.
Common collocations
Cultural note
Barley has been cultivated in Japan since ancient times. It is a key ingredient in 麦茶 (barley tea, a staple summer drink), 麦みそ (barley miso), and 麦焼酎 (barley shochu).