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.

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.

Kanji

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

Similar 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.

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.