アク
Meanings
lye; alkaline water
Specifically the alkaline liquid extracted from ashes, used in traditional cooking or processing.
In the past, they used lye to make konjac.
harsh taste; bitterness; astringency
Refers to the unpleasant, sharp, or alkaline taste found in certain vegetables (e.g., bamboo shoots, bracken) or poorly prepared food.
Bamboo shoots have a strong harsh taste, so you boil them with rice bran.
The froth or impurities that rise to the surface when boiling meat, fish, or vegetables; often skimmed off.
Carefully skim off the scum from the pot.
strong personality; idiosyncrasy; self-assertiveness
Metaphorical extension: a person's rough edges, strong individuality, or excessive self-assertion. Often used in phrases like アクが強い (to have a strong personality) or アクが抜ける (to become mellow). Sometimes incorrectly written as 悪.
See also: アクが強い
He has a strong personality, so people either like him or dislike him.
He's mellowed a lot with age.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉のアクを抜くto remove the bitterness/harshness from (a food)
You pre-boil bamboo shoots to remove their harsh taste before cooking them.
- アクを取るto skim off the scum/foam (while boiling)
While simmering the soup, skim off the scum frequently.
- アクが抜けるto mellow out; to lose one's rough edges (of a person's character)
As he's gotten older, he's mellowed out.