コンペイトー

also: こんぺいとう · コンペートー

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Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

konpeitō; small colored sugar candy with tiny bumps

usually written using kana alone

A traditional Japanese sugar candy shaped like small stars or spheres with many tiny pointed protrusions. Often given as a gift or used in celebrations.

from Portuguese confeito

祖そ母ぼが金平糖こんぺいとーをくれた。
My grandmother gave me some konpeitō.
このコンペイトーは色いろとりどりでかわいい。
These konpeitō are colorful and cute.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

金gold
平even, flat, peace
糖sugar
米rice, USA, metre
餅mochi rice cake

Related words

キャンディー
General term for candy; konpeitō is a specific traditional type.
飴あめ
Generic Japanese word for hard candy; konpeitō is a distinct variety with a bumpy texture.

Written forms

金平糖こんぺいとーUsage58%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Ateji kanji form; rarely used but recognized.
金米糖こんぺいとーUsage22%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji variant.
こんぺいとうUsage11%
kana-only spelling
Hiragana spelling, also common.
コンペイトウUsage8%
金餅糖こんぺいとー
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji variant.

Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese 'confeito' (sugar candy), introduced to Japan in the 16th century. The kanji are ateji (phonetic equivalents) and do not reflect the meaning.