also: くろまい · こくまい
noun
brown rice; unpolished rice; unmilled rice
Rice that has been hulled but retains the bran layer, giving it a light brown color and nuttier flavor. Commonly contrasted with white rice (白米).
健康のために白米ではなく玄米を食べている。
For my health, I eat brown rice instead of white rice.
玄米は白米より炊くの
Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice.
noun
black rice; forbidden rice
A type of rice with a deep black or purple bran layer, often used in traditional or festive dishes. Not the same as brown rice, though the kanji 黒米 can be ambiguous.
黒米は古代米の一種で、お祝いの席で食べられることがある。
Black rice is a type of ancient grain and is sometimes eaten on celebratory occasions.
Rare reading for 黒米, sometimes used for black rice.
Rare reading for 黒米, sometimes used for black rice.
玄米 literally means 'dark rice' (玄 'dark, profound' + 米 'rice'), referring to the brownish color of unpolished rice. 黒米 uses 黒 'black' and can refer to either brown rice or black rice depending on context.