飴

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 飴をなめる。▶ —
   I suck on a candy.
2. 子供に飴をあげた。▶ —
   I gave the child a candy.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Ame (飴) is the Japanese word for hard candy or toffee — kanji 飴 (mizu-ame stem). Homophone with 雨 (ame, rain) — context disambiguates: "ame wo nameru" (suck a candy) vs "ame ga furu" (rain falls). Traditional ame: kintarou-ame (Kintarou candy, Edo invention) shows the same Kintarou face in cross-section no matter where you slice — its idiomatic afterlife means "uniform, no individuality." Ame-zaiku (飴細工, candy sculpture) shapes hot taffy into animals or flowers — Edo street art. Idiom store: ame to muchi (candy and whip = carrot and stick), ame no you ni amai (sweet as candy = overly indulgent). Etymology splits from neighbors: Japanese ame originates with kome-ame (rice-based malt syrup from antiquity), whereas Korean "sa-tang" and Chinese táng come from 砂糖 (cane sugar) — different historical materials.

Quick check

1. Idiomatic meaning of kintarou-ame (金太郎飴)?

   • Uniformity / no individuality (same any way you slice)
   • Strength / valor
   • Sweetness
   • Antiquity