1.
rice cake pounding; mochi making
The traditional process of making mochi by pounding steamed glutinous rice with a large wooden mallet in a mortar. A festive activity associated with the New Year season.
年末に餅つきをした。
We did mochi pounding at the end of the year.
町内会で餅つき大会が開かれた。
A mochi-pounding event was held by the neighborhood association.
子供たちは初めての餅つき体験に大はしゃぎだった。
The children were thrilled by their first mochi-pounding experience.
A traditional New Year preparation activity. Steamed 餅米 (glutinous rice) is placed in an 臼 (mortar) and pounded with a 杵 (wooden mallet). One person pounds while another turns and wets the rice — this teamwork is called 合いの手.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 餅つきをする (to pound mochi)
- 餅つき大会 (mochi-pounding event)
- 餅つき体験 (mochi-pounding experience)
CULTURAL NOTE:
Traditionally done around December 28 or 30 for New Year preparations. Pounding on the 29th is avoided because 29 can be read as 苦 (suffering). Community 餅つき events remain popular, especially for children.