もずく

も

ず

く

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

mozuku (type of edible seaweed)

usually written using kana alone

Refers to Cladosiphon okamuranus and Sphaerotrichia divaricata, commonly eaten in Japan, often in vinegared dishes or miso soup.

めかぶ
Mekabu is the ruffled part of wakame seaweed, while mozuku is a different species with a slimy texture.
昆こん布ぶ
Konbu is a type of kelp used for dashi, whereas mozuku is a smaller, more mucilaginous seaweed eaten as a side dish.

もずくUsage57%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms are rare and mainly used in specialized contexts.
モズクUsage43%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is sometimes used in menus or product labels.
水雲もずく
Rare kanji form; may be encountered in traditional or literary contexts.
藻も付ずく
Rare kanji form; literally 'attached to seaweed'.
海蘊もずく
Rare kanji form; may appear in botanical or historical texts.
海雲もずく
Rare kanji form; literally 'sea cloud'.

The origin is uncertain, but it may derive from 藻付く (mo tsuku), meaning 'seaweed that attaches', referring to its habit of growing on other seaweeds.