切り餅(きりもち)

きりもち
noun
block mochi; cut rice cake
foodculture
1. block mochi; cut rice cake
Rectangular pieces of pounded rice cake, typically sold in individually wrapped blocks. A staple food especially around New Year.
切り餅(きりもち)を焼(や)く。
To grill block mochi.
切り餅(きりもち)を二(ふた)つ入(い)れて雑煮(ぞうに)を作(つく)った。
I made ozoni with two pieces of block mochi.
お正月(しょうがつ)が近(ちか)づくと切り餅(きりもち)がスーパーにたくさん並(なら)ぶ。
When New Year approaches, lots of block mochi are displayed at the supermarket.

Refers to mochi that has been pounded and cut into uniform rectangular blocks, as opposed to 丸餅(まるもち) (round mochi). 切り餅(きりもち) is the dominant form in eastern Japan, while 丸餅(まるもち) is traditional in western Japan. Commercially packaged 切り餅(きりもち) is a pantry staple that can be stored for months.

Common collocations

  • 切り餅(きりもち)を焼(や)く: to toast/grill mochi
  • 切り餅(きりもち)を煮(に)る: to boil mochi
  • 個包装(こほうそう)の切り餅(きりもち): individually wrapped block mochi

Similar words

  • 丸餅(まるもち): round mochi — the round form traditional in western Japan
  • 餅(もち): rice cake — the general term for pounded rice cake in any shape
  • 鏡餅(かがみもち): mirror mochi — a decorative stacked mochi offering for New Year

Related Words

Compare: 鏡餅(かがみもち) (mirror mochi)
general
Added 2026.4.21 21:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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