干(ほ)し菓 子(がし)

ほしがし

noun

dried sweets; dry Japanese confectionery

1. dried sweets; dry Japanese confectionery

Traditional Japanese confections with low moisture content and long shelf life, such as 落雁(らくがん), 金平糖(こんぺいとう), and 煎餅(せんべい). Contrasted with 生菓子(なまがし) (fresh, moist sweets). Frequently served with tea, especially in tea ceremony.

干(ほ)し菓子(がし)をお茶(ちゃ)と一緒(いっしょ)に出(だ)した。

I served dried sweets together with tea.

京都(きょうと)の老舗(しにせ)で綺麗(きれい)な干(ほ)し菓子(がし)を買(か)った。

I bought beautiful dried sweets at a long-established shop in Kyoto.

茶道(さどう)の席(せき)では、薄茶(うすちゃ)に合(あ)わせて干(ほ)し菓子(がし)が出(だ)されることが多(おお)い。

At a tea ceremony, dried sweets are often served to go with the thin tea.

Compound of 干(ほ)す ("to dry") + 菓子(かし) ("sweets"); the second element shifts to が (rendaku).

Types

Japanese confections are broadly divided by moisture content:

干(ほ)し菓子(がし) (≤10% moisture): 落雁(らくがん), 金平糖(こんぺいとう), hard candies, dry biscuits — long shelf life
半生菓子(はんなまがし) (10–30% moisture): semi-moist sweets
生菓子(なまがし) (≥30% moisture): fresh sweets such as 大福(だいふく) and 練(ね)り切(き)り — must be eaten quickly

Common collocations

干(ほ)し菓子(がし)を出(だ)す: to serve dried sweets
干(ほ)し菓子(がし)の詰(つ)め合(あ)わせ: an assortment of dried sweets (a common gift)
薄茶(うすちゃ)に干(ほ)し菓子(がし): dried sweets paired with thin matcha

general

Added 2026.5.11 16:04 · Revised 2026.10.7 3:22

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