1.
wooden mallet; pestle for pounding mochi
A large wooden mallet used to pound steamed glutinous rice in a mortar (臼) to make mochi. The traditional tool is associated with New Year's preparations and community festivals.
杵で餅をつく。
To pound mochi with a mallet.
子供たちが重い杵を持ち上げた。
The children lifted the heavy mallet.
正月の餅つきでは、臼と杵を使って餅をつくのが伝統だ。
For New Year's mochi pounding, using a mortar and mallet to pound mochi is the tradition.
A heavy wooden mallet, typically made from a hard wood like keyaki (欅, zelkova). Used in 餅つき (mochi pounding), where one person swings the 杵 and another turns the 餅 in the 臼 (mortar) between strikes. This rhythmic teamwork is a beloved tradition at New Year's events and community festivals.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 杵で餅をつく: to pound mochi with a mallet
- 杵を振り上げる: to raise the mallet high
- 臼と杵: mortar and mallet (always paired)
CULTURAL NOTE:
The image of a rabbit pounding mochi with a 杵 on the moon (月のうさぎ) is a well-known Japanese folk motif. 餅つき events are common at temples, community centers, and schools around New Year's.
RELATED TERMS:
- 臼: the stone or wooden mortar used as a pair with the 杵
- 餅つき: mochi pounding event
Related Words
Related:
臼 (paired tool for mochi pounding)