Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of polished rice is most commonly expressed as 白米 (hakumai), referring to white rice that has been milled to remove the bran. This is the standard rice eaten daily. Other terms exist for specific contexts, such as the raw uncooked grain or the act of polishing.
The most common term for polished, white rice as a food item, typically cooked.
Standard word for polished white rice, often used in contrast to brown rice (玄米). Can refer to both raw and cooked rice, but context usually makes it clear.
Polished rice is the staple food of Japan.
More technical term for polished rice, emphasizing the milling process. Often used in nutritional or agricultural contexts.
When referring specifically to the uncooked grains of polished rice, as sold in stores.
Referring to the action or process of milling brown rice into white rice.
Specifying how much the rice has been polished, often as a percentage.
Technical term for the milling percentage, i.e., the weight of polished rice remaining compared to original brown rice. Lower percentage means more polishing. Common in sake brewing.
I prefer polished rice to brown rice.
Polished rice has fewer vitamins.
Refers to polished rice grains that have been milled. Commonly seen on packaging. Can also refer to the process of polishing.
This polished rice is new crop.
Wash the polished rice before cooking.
Also used for raw grains, but more ambiguous than 精米. Context usually clarifies.
I bought 5 kilograms of polished rice.
Noun meaning rice polishing/milling. Also used as a verb with する (精米する).
Freshly polished rice is delicious.
This machine polishes brown rice.
Literally 'to polish rice', but in daily life this usually means washing/rinsing rice before cooking, not the industrial milling process. Be careful with context.
This phrase typically refers to washing rice at home, not the industrial polishing process. For industrial polishing, use 精米する.
After washing the rice, let it sit for 30 minutes.
This sake uses rice polished to 50%.
Suffix indicating rice polished to leave a certain amount of bran. E.g., 三分づき (sanbu-zuki) means 30% bran remaining (70% polished). Often used for health-conscious semi-polished rice.
Rice polished to 70% has more nutrients.
rice polishing shop
The English phrase 'polished rice' might lead learners to think of the action of polishing. In Japanese, 米を研ぐ (kome o togu) means to wash/rinsing rice, not industrial polishing. For the industrial process, use 精米する (seimai suru).