Translation guide
A tool used for crushing or grinding substances in a mortar. In Japanese, the word depends on the context, especially the size and purpose.
The most common pestle used in Japanese cooking, typically wooden, used with a suribachi (mortar) for grinding sesame seeds, miso, etc.
The standard pestle used with a suribachi (mortar) in Japanese cooking. It is usually made of wood and has a ridged surface.
すりこぎでごまをする。
Grind sesame seeds with a pestle.
Kanji form of surikogi, more common in written contexts.
擂り粉木でごまをする。
Grind sesame seeds with a pestle.
A large, heavy pestle used with an usu (mortar) for pounding rice into mochi or other heavy grinding tasks.
A large wooden mallet-like pestle used with an usu (臼) for pounding mochi. Not used for grinding in a suribachi.
もちつきにきねを使う。
Use a pestle for mochi pounding.
Kanji form of kine, often seen in traditional contexts.
もちつきに杵を使う。
Use a pestle for mochi pounding.
A small pestle, often ceramic or stone, used with a small mortar for grinding medicine or small amounts of spices.
Literally 'milk stick', refers to a small pestle used in a mortar (乳鉢) for grinding medicine or small quantities. Technical term.
乳棒で薬を粉にする。
Grind medicine into powder with a pestle.
A generic word for pestle, not commonly used in everyday language.
Literally 'grinding stick', a more descriptive term for a pestle, but surikogi is more common.
すりこぎ棒でごまをする。
Grind sesame seeds with a pestle.
Surikogi (すりこぎ) is used with a suribachi (mortar with ridges) for grinding, while kine (きね) is used with an usu (large mortar) for pounding. Do not confuse them; using a surikogi for pounding mochi would be ineffective and potentially damaging.
Simply saying 'pestle' in English may not convey the specific tool needed. In Japanese, specify whether you mean a surikogi or kine based on the task.