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旨味 (うまみ, umami) Japanese meaning: good flavor | Kotomora
じ 字
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. good flavor; deliciousness 2. umami (savory taste) 3. skill; cleverness; appeal 4. profit; benefit; advantage Report an issue with this page
This soup has a rich, savory flavor from the vegetables.
Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 に 旨うま 味み がある there is deliciousness/umami in something
This soup has a rich, savory flavor.
旨うま 味み を 引ひ き 出だ す to draw out the umami flavor
Kelp plays a role in drawing out the umami in the broth.
〈 事こと 〉 に 旨うま 味み がある there's profit or advantage in something
There's real profit to be made in this deal.
旨うま 味み がない there's nothing in it (no benefit or appeal)
There isn't much benefit in this job.
〈 人ひと 〉 に 旨うま 味み がある someone has a certain charm or appeal
His acting has a unique charm to it.
Kanji 旨 delicious, relish, show a liking for Related words· 8 味 is the broad word for taste or flavor in general, while 旨味 points specifically to the rich, savory quality within that taste.
風味 highlights the overall aroma and character of a flavor, whereas 旨味 zeroes in on its savory richness.
コク is a casual, everyday word for the 'body' or richness of a taste, while 旨味 is the more precise term used in cooking and science for the savory component itself.
魅力 is the general word for charm or appeal in a person, while 旨味 in this figurative sense suggests a specific, often hidden, appealing quality.
Show 4 more 利益 is the formal, businesslike word for profit, while 旨味 is a more colloquial way to describe a tangible personal or financial benefit.
メリット is a casual loanword for 'advantage' used broadly, while 旨味 specifically implies a gain worth pursuing, often in a deal or venture.
うまみ refers specifically to savory (umami) taste, while こく describes a broader full-bodied richness or depth in flavor.
Written forms 旨うま 味み Usage 27%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Common kanji spelling for the savory taste and general deliciousness. 味 is ateji.
うまみ Usage 34%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing.
旨うま み Usage 21%
Alternative spelling using okurigana. Less common than 旨味.
うま 味み Usage 17%
Etymology Derived from the adjective うまい (delicious) with the nominalizing suffix み, indicating a quality or degree. The kanji 旨 carries the meaning of 'delicious' or 'skillful', and 味 means 'taste', though its use here is ateji.
美び 味み
旨味 refers to a rich, savory deliciousness (often the umami taste itself) and is common in everyday speech, whereas 美味 is a broader, more formal term for exquisite flavor.
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Often used in scientific or culinary contexts to specifically denote the umami taste. 味 is ateji.
