# mochi

/ˈmoʊtʃi/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mochi
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Definition

a soft, chewy Japanese food made from rice that has been pounded into a sticky paste.

For teachers: a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome, a short-grain glutinous rice, which is pounded into a paste and moulded into shapes.

## Examples

- We ate sweet mochi for dessert after our meal.
- During the New Year celebrations, many families gather to prepare traditional mochi using a large wooden mallet.
- While traditionally served in savoury soups, mochi has gained international popularity as a sweet confection, often wrapped around small scoops of ice cream.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to individual cakes or pieces.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.