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.
祭りで水飴を買った。
I bought some starch-syrup candy at the festival.
砂糖の代わりに水飴を使うとつやが出る。
Using starch syrup instead of sugar gives the dish a glossy finish.
昔は駄菓子屋でわりばしに巻いた水飴が売られていた。
In the old days, starch-syrup candy wound onto chopsticks was sold at cheap-candy shops.
Literally 'water candy' — 水 (water) + 飴 (candy). The 'water' refers to its liquid, syrupy form rather than hard candy.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 水飴を舐める: to lick starch syrup
- 水飴を加える: to add starch syrup (in cooking)
- 水飴状: syrupy; like starch syrup
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
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: candy (general; usually hard candy)
- シロップ: syrup (modern loanword, used for drinks and desserts)