noun
hail (small, under 5 mm); graupel
Refers to small hail or graupel, typically under 5 mm. Contrast with 雹 (ひょう), which is larger hail.
See also: 雹
昨夜、あられが降って、庭が白くなった。
Last night, small hail fell and the garden turned white.
noun
Used in cooking to describe ingredients cut into small cubes, resembling hailstones.
にんじんをあられに切ってスープに入れた。
I diced the carrot and put it in the soup.
noun
roasted mochi pieces (usu. flavored with soy sauce)
Abbreviation of 霰餅 (あられもち). Small, bite-sized roasted mochi often seasoned with soy sauce or other flavors.
See also: 霰餅
お茶請けにあられを出した。
I served roasted mochi pieces with the tea.
The origin is uncertain. The word may be related to the verb あらる (to be rough) or the noun あら (roughness), but this is speculative.