noun
harsh taste; acridity; astringency; bitterness
Describes an unpleasant, sharp, or harsh taste often found in certain vegetables, fruits, or poorly prepared food. Can also be used figuratively for a harsh or grating quality in art or personality.
この野菜はえぐみが強いので、下茹でが必要だ。
This vegetable has a strong harsh taste, so it needs to be parboiled.
彼の絵には独特のえぐみがあって、見る人を選ぶ。
His paintings have a distinctive harshness that appeals only to certain viewers.
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form.
渋み refers specifically to astringency, like that of unripe persimmons or strong tea, while えぐみ is a broader harshness that can include bitterness and an unpleasant sharp sensation.
苦み is straightforward bitterness, whereas えぐみ implies an additional harsh, acrid, or irritating quality beyond simple bitterness.
Derived from the adjective えぐい (harsh, acrid). The exact origin of えぐい is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word.