also: すあま
sandy beach; wavy sandbar
Refers to a sandbar or beach that projects into the sea, often with a gently curving, wavy shape. A somewhat literary or geographical term.
The sandy beach forms a beautiful coastline.
wavy pattern; wavy design
Used for traditional Japanese designs, objects, or motifs that feature a repeating wavy pattern reminiscent of a shoreline. Often seen in art, textiles, or architecture.
The wavy pattern on this kimono is very elegant.
sweet mochi cake
Only with reading すあま
A type of Japanese sweet made from mochi, often colored and shaped. Typically read すあま and may be written 素甘. The connection to the beach/pattern senses is the wavy shape.
See also: すあま
I had some sweet mochi cake with my tea.
Standard kanji spelling for the geographical feature and the pattern.
Variant spelling using 州 instead of 洲; both are used.
Reading used specifically for the sweet mochi cake sense; often written in kana or as 素甘.
Originally referred to a sandy beach or sandbar with a wavy shape. The pattern sense derives from this natural shape, and the sweet likely takes its name from the wavy form.