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おむすび (omusubi) Japanese meaning: rice ball | Kotomora
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For lunch, I ate two rice balls.
This rice ball has salmon inside.
Related words おにぎり is the common, casual word for a rice ball, while おむすび carries a slightly more polite or old-fashioned nuance for the same food.
おむすび is the softer, more everyday word for a rice ball, while 結び in this sense feels slightly more formal or old-fashioned.
おむすび is a softer, often more feminine or regional term for a rice ball, whereas 握り飯 has a plainer, more masculine feel.
Written forms おむすび Usage 95%
Kana spelling is standard; the word is usually written using kana alone.
お 結むす び Usage 5%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
Etymology Derived from the verb 結ぶ (musubu, 'to tie, to bind'), referring to the action of shaping rice by pressing it together. The polite prefix お (o-) is added.
