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道Nihongo Path

粒

つぶ

grain, drop, small round object; counter for such things

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. この米は粒が大きい。

    このこめはつぶがおおきい。

    The grains of this rice are large.

  2. この薬を一日に二粒飲んでください。

    このくすりをいちにちにふたつぶのんでください。

    Please take two of these tablets a day.

  3. 大粒の涙が彼女のほおを流れ落ちた。

    おおつぶのなみだがかのじょのほおをながれおちた。

    Big tears rolled down her cheeks.

Common patterns

米の粒
a grain of rice
雨の粒
a raindrop
大粒の涙
big tears

Memory tip

Any small round thing — a grain of rice, a raindrop, a tablet — and it doubles as their counter: 一粒、二粒. 大粒 and 小粒 describe the size; ground to powder it becomes 粉.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

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What does 粒 mean?