also: しょうふう
noun
wind blowing through pine trees; sound of wind in the pines
Evokes a classic Japanese aesthetic scene; often appears in poetry, literature, and traditional arts. The sound is considered soothing and elegant.
松風の音を聞きながら、縁側でお茶を飲んだ。
I drank tea on the veranda while listening to the sound of the wind in the pines.
noun
sound of steam whistling in a tea ceremony kettle
Only with reading まつかぜ
Specific to the tea ceremony; the gentle whistling of the kettle is poetically likened to wind in pine trees. Used only with the reading まつかぜ.
茶室に松風が響き、静かなひとときが流れた。
The sound of the kettle's 'matsukaze' filled the tea room, and a quiet moment passed.
noun
matsukaze (sugar-glazed cookie with sesame or poppy seeds)
Only with reading まつかぜ
A traditional Japanese sweet named after the poetic sound. The cookie is typically rectangular, glazed, and sprinkled with sesame or poppy seeds. Reading is まつかぜ.
京都の老舗で松風を買って帰った。
I bought some matsukaze cookies at a long-established shop in Kyoto.
Literally 'pine wind'. The word combines 松 (pine) and 風 (wind). The tea ceremony and confectionery senses are metaphorical extensions of the natural sound.