also: さかまい · さかごめ · さけごめ
noun
brewer's rice; sake rice
Rice specifically cultivated for sake brewing, typically with a larger grain and higher starch content than table rice.
酒米は食用米より粒が大きい。
Brewer's rice has larger grains than table rice.
この地域では良質な酒米が生産されている。
High-quality sake rice is produced in this region.
Rare reading with rendaku on 米. May be encountered in older or regional contexts.
Rare reading using さけ for 酒. Not commonly used.
Compound of 酒 (sake, alcohol) and 米 (rice). The reading しゅまい uses on'yomi for both characters, while さかまい, さかごめ, and さけごめ use kun'yomi combinations.