Translation guide
The English word "grain" covers several distinct concepts: cereal crops and their seeds, a tiny particle, the texture of wood or stone, and a unit of weight. Each meaning maps to different Japanese words.
Referring to grains as food or agricultural products, such as wheat, rice, barley, etc.
General term for cereal grains as a category. Used in contexts like agriculture, trade, and cooking.
日本は穀物の多くを輸入している。
Japan imports much of its grain.
Another general term for grains, often used in nutritional or scientific contexts.
穀類は炭水化物の重要な供給源だ。
Grains are an important source of carbohydrates.
Specifically rice (uncooked grains). In Japanese context, often the default grain.
この米は新潟産です。
This rice is from Niigata.
Refers to barley, wheat, oats, rye – broadly 'wheat/barley' grains. Often used in compounds.
麦はビールの原料だ。
Barley is an ingredient in beer.
Talking about one individual grain, like a grain of rice or wheat.
Counter/word for small roundish objects, including grains. Use with a number or descriptor.
米粒が床に落ちている。
There are grains of rice on the floor.
一粒の麦
a single grain of wheat
Technical term for a grain kernel, used in agriculture or botany.
Describing a small hard particle, like a grain of sand or salt.
Referring to the natural lines or fibers in materials like wood or meat.
Specifically the grain of wood. Also written 木理.
この机は木目が美しい。
This desk has a beautiful wood grain.
General word for grain, texture, or pattern in materials. Often used in compounds.
この石は細かい目がある。
This stone has a fine grain.
Refers to the surface texture or grain, especially of wood or leather.
Referring to the very small unit of mass, often used for bullets or precious metals.
Loanword for the unit 'grain'. Used in specialized contexts like ammunition.
この弾丸は150グレーンだ。
This bullet is 150 grains.
Alternative transliteration, less common.
この弾丸は150ゲレインだ。
This bullet is 150 grains.
While 粒 (つぶ) is the go-to for small particles and seeds, it is not used for the texture of wood. Use 木目 (もくめ) or 目 (め) instead.
In many everyday contexts, when English says 'grain', Japanese may default to 米 (こめ) if the context is food. For general agricultural talk, 穀物 is safer.
This variety has large grains.
A design that makes use of the leather's grain.