(こんぺいとう)

こんぺいとう
noun
konpeito; small star-shaped sugar candy
1. konpeito; star-shaped sugar candy
Small, colorful, star-shaped sugar candies with a bumpy surface. Introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders in the 16th century.
金平糖(こんぺいとう)(いろ)とりどりできれいだ。
Konpeito are colorful and pretty.
土産(みやげ)金平糖(こんぺいとう)をもらった。
I received konpeito as a souvenir.
金平糖(こんぺいとう)戦国(せんごく)時代(じだい)にポルトガルから(つた)わった南蛮(なんばん)菓子(がし)(ひと)つだ。
Konpeito is one of the Southern Barbarian sweets that came from Portugal during the Warring States period.

Small, colorful sugar candies with distinctive bumpy protrusions, giving them a star-like appearance. The name comes from the Portuguese word confeito (confectionery).

Introduced to Japan during the 戦国(せんごく)時代(じだい) (Sengoku period) by Portuguese missionaries. Historically, they were a luxury item presented to 織田信長(おだのぶなが) by the missionary Luis Frois in 1569.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 金平糖(こんぺいとう)(つく)る (to make konpeito)
  • (いろ)とりどりの金平糖(こんぺいとう) (colorful konpeito)

Making 金平糖(こんぺいとう) is extremely time-consuming, taking about two weeks of continuous rotation in a heated pan. They remain a popular traditional sweet and gift item.