also: うる
noun
non-glutinous rice; regular rice
Refers specifically to rice that is not sticky enough for mochi; the standard eating rice in Japan. Contrasts with 糯 (もちごめ).
See also: 糯
日本の普段のご飯は、ほとんどがうるち米です。
Most everyday rice in Japan is non-glutinous rice.
もち米とうるち米では、でんぷんの性質が違います。
Glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice have different starch properties.
Kana spelling is common in everyday contexts, especially when the kanji is not well known.
糯 is glutinous rice, sticky and used for mochi; 粳 is the standard non-glutinous rice.
The kanji 粳 is composed of 米 (rice) and 更 (further/more), but the exact historical derivation is uncertain. The word is native Japanese.