mortar

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 臼 is read うす, has 6 strokes, and relates to tools for pounding or grinding grain.
• Basic usage: 臼 is read うす, and 石臼 is read いしうす.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 臼 and 石臼
  • 臼 means mortar or millstone.
  • 庭に置かれた臼で餅をついた。 means “We pounded rice cakes in the mortar in the yard.”
  • 石臼 means millstone or stone mortar.
  • 祖母は石臼で豆をゆっくり挽きました。 means “My grandmother slowly ground beans with a millstone.”