1.
mortar; millstone
A heavy vessel, typically made of stone or wood, with a hollowed center used for pounding mochi or grinding grains. Paired with a pestle (杵) for mochi pounding.
臼で餅をつく。
To pound mochi in a mortar.
石の臼はとても重い。
A stone mortar is very heavy.
祖父の家には古い木の臼が残っていて、正月に餅つきをする。
An old wooden mortar remains at my grandfather's house, and we use it for mochi pounding at New Year's.
A large, heavy vessel with a concave center, traditionally used for pounding 餅 or grinding grains and spices. Made from stone (石臼) or wood. The stone type is also used for grinding tea leaves, soybeans, and other ingredients.
TYPES:
- 石臼: stone mortar, used for grinding flour or tea
- 木臼: wooden mortar, typically used for mochi pounding
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 臼と杵: mortar and mallet (traditional pair)
- 臼で挽く: to grind with a millstone
- 臼に入れる: to put into the mortar
CULTURAL NOTE:
石臼 were once essential household tools for grinding grain. Today they are mostly seen at traditional events, craft workshops, and matcha production facilities where tea leaves are stone-ground.
RELATED TERMS:
- 杵: the wooden mallet used together with the mortar
- 餅つき: mochi pounding event
- すり鉢: a ribbed ceramic mortar used for grinding smaller quantities
Related Words
Related:
杵 (paired tool for mochi pounding)