葛饅頭くずまんじゅう

く

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ま

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じゅ

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Meanings

1

noun

kudzu-starch dumpling with bean paste

A traditional Japanese confection: a ball of sweet bean paste (usually red bean) coated in a translucent jelly made from kudzu starch.

夏なつになると、冷ひやした葛饅頭くずまんじゅうが食たべたくなる。

When summer comes, I crave chilled kudzu-starch dumplings.

この和わ菓が子し屋やの葛饅頭くずまんじゅうは、くず粉この風ふう味みが豊ゆたかだ。

The kudzu-starch dumplings at this Japanese confectionery have a rich kudzu flavor.

Kanji

葛arrowroot, kudzu
饅bean-jam dumpling, manjuu
頭head, counter for large animals

Related words

饅頭まんじゅう
饅頭 is a general term for steamed buns with bean paste, while 葛饅頭 specifically uses a kudzu starch coating instead of wheat dough.
水饅頭みずまんじゅう
水饅頭 is a similar summer sweet with a transparent jelly coating, but typically uses arrowroot or other starches, not necessarily kudzu.

Built from

葛くず+饅頭まんじゅう

Written forms

葛饅頭くずまんじゅう
Standard kanji spelling for this traditional sweet.
葛くずまんじゅう
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; easier to read for learners.

Etymology

Compound of 葛 (kudzu, the plant whose starch is used) and 饅頭 (manjū, a steamed bun with filling). The name describes the key ingredient and the general shape.