水飴(みずあめ)

みずあめ
noun
starch syrup; clear malt syrup; liquid candy
food
1. starch syrup; clear malt syrup; liquid candy
A thick, clear or pale-amber sweet syrup traditionally made from malted rice or other starches. Used as a sweetener in Japanese cooking and confectionery, and sold on its own as a children's candy.
祭(まつり)りで水飴(みずあめ)を買(か)った。
I bought some starch-syrup candy at the festival.
砂糖(さとう)の代(か)わりに水飴(みずあめ)を使(つか)うとつやが出(で)る。
Using starch syrup instead of sugar gives the dish a glossy finish.
昔(むかし)は駄菓子屋(だがしや)でわりばしに巻(ま)いた水飴(みずあめ)が売(う)られていた。
In the old days, starch-syrup candy wound onto chopsticks was sold at cheap-candy shops.

Literally 'water candy' — 水(みず) (water) + 飴(あめ) (candy). The 'water' refers to its liquid, syrupy form rather than hard candy.

Common collocations

Cultural note

A classic festival treat in Japan, sometimes served wound around a chopstick or with shaved ice. Also a traditional sweetener that pre-dates refined sugar in Japanese cooking.

Similar words

  • 飴(あめ): candy (general; usually hard candy)
  • シロップ: syrup (modern loanword, used for drinks and desserts)

Related Words

Compare: シロップ (syrup)
Compare: 黒蜜(くろみつ) (black sugar syrup)
general
Added 2026.5.14 12:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
27500/27566_mizuame