味
flavor, taste
Readings
On'yomi
- ミ
Kun'yomi
- あじ
- あじ.わう
Meaning
味 centers on the sensory experience of flavor and taste, whether literal or figurative. It covers the quality that makes something delicious or distinctive.
Most common words using 味
24 of 408- 意味いみN5
meaning; significance; sense
- 興味きょうみN4
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
- 味あじN4
flavor; flavour; taste
- 美味しいおいしいN5
good(-tasting); nice; delicious; tasty
- 趣味しゅみN5
hobby; pastime
- 味方みかたN3
friend; ally; supporter
- 不味いまずいN4
bad(-tasting); unpalatable; unsavoury; unsavory; awful; terrible; unpleasant
- 地味じみN3
plain; simple; subdued; sober
- 気味きみN3
sensation; feeling
- 気味ぎみN2
-like; -looking; -looked; tending to ...
- 興味深いきょうみぶかいN2
very interesting; of great interest
- 味噌みそN4
miso; fermented condiment usu. made from soybeans
- 味わうあじわうN3
to taste; to savor; to savour; to relish
- 風味ふうみ
taste; flavor; flavour
- 不気味ぶきみN2
weird; eerie; ominous; creepy; uncanny; unearthly
- 味わいあじわいN1
flavour; flavor; taste
- 味噌汁みそしるN1
miso soup
- 味付けあじつけN2
seasoning; flavour; flavor
- 意味合いいみあい
implication; nuance; shade of meaning; connotation
- 甘味あまみN2
sweetness; sugary taste
- 味覚みかくN1
(sense of) taste; palate
- 酸味さんみ
sourness; acidity
- 吟味ぎんみN1
close examination; careful investigation; close inspection; careful selection; inquiry; enquiry; scrutiny; testing
- 興味津々きょうみしんしん
very interesting; of absorbing interest; having a keen interest (in); being immensely curious (about)
Study
Etymology
味 combines 口 (mouth) with 未, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest something not yet fully experienced, relating to savoring flavor.
Meaning mnemonic
A mouth 口 next to 未, which looks like a tree with extra branches, can be remembered as a mouth tasting the not-yet-ripe fruit to check its flavor.
Reading mnemonic
For ミ, imagine tasting a flavor so good it makes you say 'me!' because you want it all for yourself: me -> ミ.