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.
白米は日本の主食です。
Polished rice is the staple food of Japan.
玄米より白米の方が好きです。
I prefer polished rice to brown rice.
More technical term for polished rice, emphasizing the milling process. Often used in nutritional or agricultural contexts.
精白米はビタミンが少ないです。
Polished rice has fewer vitamins.
When referring specifically to the uncooked grains of polished rice, as sold in stores.
Refers to polished rice grains that have been milled. Commonly seen on packaging. Can also refer to the process of polishing.
この精米は新米です。
This polished rice is new crop.
精米をといでから炊きます。
Wash the polished rice before cooking.
Also used for raw grains, but more ambiguous than 精米. Context usually clarifies.
Referring to the action or process of milling brown rice into white rice.
Noun meaning rice polishing/milling. Also used as a verb with する (精米する).
精米したての米は美味しい。
Freshly polished rice is delicious.
この機械で玄米を精米します。
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.
米を研いでから30分置きます。
After washing the rice, let it sit for 30 minutes.
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.
この酒は精米歩合50%の米を使っています。
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.
三分づき米は栄養が多いです。
Rice polished to 70% has more nutrients.
白米 (hakumai) is the everyday word for white rice. 精米 (seimai) emphasizes the polished grains or the milling process. 精白米 (seihakumai) is a more formal/technical term. In most daily situations, 白米 is sufficient.
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).
白米5キロを買いました。
I bought 5 kilograms of polished rice.