rice vs rice cake in Korean

vs

rice

rice

쌀 means rice, especially the dry grains before cooking. People use this word when they buy rice, wash it, or talk about having rice at home. It is a very common food word in Korean because rice is an important everyday meal.

When to use rice
rice cake

rice cake

A rice cake is a traditional Korean food made from rice flour. It can be soft, chewy, sweet, or plain, and people eat it as a snack, dessert, or holiday food. In Korean, 떡 often appears in daily life, at celebrations, and in special dishes.

When to use rice cake

How they differ

쌀 is the raw grain before cooking or making other foods. 떡 is a finished food made from rice flour or pounded rice.