Translation guide
The quality of being acidic, often used in scientific, culinary, or metaphorical contexts. Japanese has distinct terms for chemical acidity, sour taste, and figurative sharpness.
The concentration of hydrogen ions; a measurable property of a solution.
The standard technical term for acidity as a measurable property (e.g., pH). Used in chemistry, environmental science, and food science.
この溶液の酸性度を測定してください。
Please measure the acidity of this solution.
土壌の酸性度が高すぎると、作物の生育に悪影響を及ぼします。
If the soil acidity is too high, it adversely affects crop growth.
Often used interchangeably with 酸性度, but can specifically refer to titratable acidity in food chemistry or the acid content in beverages like wine or coffee.
このワインの酸度は適度で、爽やかな味わいです。
The acidity of this wine is moderate, giving it a refreshing taste.
The sharp, tart flavor perceived on the tongue, often from acids like citric acid or vinegar.
The most common word for sourness as a taste. Used in cooking, food reviews, and everyday conversation about flavor.
このドレッシングは酸味が強すぎる。
This dressing has too much acidity.
レモンの酸味が料理を引き締める。
The acidity of the lemon tightens up the dish.
A more casual, sensory term for sourness. Often used in everyday speech to describe the degree of sourness of foods like pickles or fruit.
この梅干しの酸っぱさがたまらない。
I can't resist the acidity of this pickled plum.
A biting, critical, or harsh quality in someone's words or demeanor.
Refers to sharpness or bitterness in speech or criticism. Conveys a caustic, cutting tone.
彼の批判には辛辣さが感じられた。
There was an acidity to his criticism.
Literally 'thorniness', used for a prickly, sharp attitude or remark. More colloquial than 辛辣さ.
彼女の言葉にはとげとげしさがあった。
There was an acidity in her words.
A desirable bright, lively quality in beverages, often described by connoisseurs.
Also used in coffee and wine tasting to describe a pleasant, bright acidity. Often modified with adjectives like 心地よい (pleasant) or 爽やかな (refreshing).
このコーヒーは心地よい酸味が特徴です。
This coffee is characterized by a pleasant acidity.
Loanword from English, used among coffee or wine enthusiasts but less common than 酸味. May sound technical or affected.
この豆のアシディティは素晴らしい。
The acidity of these beans is wonderful.
酸性度 (sanseido) is a scientific measurement of acidity (pH), while 酸味 (sanmi) is the sensory perception of sourness. Use 酸性度 when talking about chemical properties, and 酸味 when describing taste.
When describing a person's sharp or biting tone, do not use 酸性度 or 酸味. Instead, use 辛辣さ (shinratsusa) or とげとげしさ (togetogeshisa).