Translation guide
The taste that remains in your mouth after eating or drinking something. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with the noun 後味 (あとあじ), but there are also related words for lingering flavor, sweetness, and metaphorical uses.
The physical sensation of a taste that stays in the mouth after consuming something.
The most common and neutral word for aftertaste. Can be used for both pleasant and unpleasant lingering tastes.
このコーヒーは後味がすっきりしている。
This coffee has a clean aftertaste.
後味が悪い料理だった。
The dish left a bad aftertaste.
Literally 'reverberation' or 'lingering effect'. Used for a pleasant, subtle aftertaste that lingers elegantly, often in the context of sake, tea, or fine dining.
この日本酒は余韻が長く続く。
This sake has a long, lingering aftertaste.
Similar to 後味 but less common. Can also refer to the aftertaste of a drink, especially alcohol. Sometimes used in the phrase 後口が悪い (bad aftertaste).
このワインは後口がさわやかだ。
This wine has a refreshing aftertaste.
A lingering feeling, often negative, after an event or interaction.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'leaves a bad taste in one's mouth' or 'leaves a bad aftertaste' in a metaphorical sense. Used when an experience feels unpleasant or regrettable afterward.
彼の言い方は後味が悪かった。
The way he said it left a bad aftertaste.
あの映画は後味が悪い終わり方だった。
That movie had an ending that left a bad aftertaste.
Noun form meaning 'the unpleasant aftertaste (of an experience)'. Used to describe the lingering discomfort or regret.
会議の後、後味の悪さが残った。
After the meeting, a bad aftertaste lingered.
Specifically a sweet taste that remains, often in the context of fruits, desserts, or sake.
While primarily meaning 'sweetness', it can refer to the sweet aftertaste that lingers, especially in sake tasting or when describing fruit.
このメロンは甘味が強く、後味も良い。
This melon is very sweet and has a good aftertaste.
General word for sweetness. Can be used to describe a sweet aftertaste, but less specific than 甘味.
このケーキは甘さが口に残る。
The sweetness of this cake lingers in your mouth.
後味 (あとあじ) is the everyday word for aftertaste, both literal and metaphorical. 余韻 (よいん) is more poetic and often used for refined, lingering flavors in drinks like sake or tea, or for the lingering emotional impact of art. Using 余韻 for a bad aftertaste would be unusual.
The English word 'aftertaste' is often directly translated as 後味, but in some contexts, Japanese speakers might simply describe the taste as lingering using verbs like 残る (のこる, to remain) or adjectives like すっきり (clean, refreshing). For example, 'It has a bitter aftertaste' can be 苦味が残る (にがみがのこる) without using 後味.
苦味が口に残る。
A bitter taste lingers in the mouth.