味わう

• Reading: あじわう
• Romaji: ajiwau
• Kanji breakdown: 味 (aji/mi) — taste, flavour, experience
• Pronunciation: /a.d͡ʑi.wa.ɯ/

Meaning

To taste; to savour; to experience deeply; to appreciate fully. Used for both literal tasting and figurative absorption of an experience.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated on the -u stem. Beyond literal flavour, it conveys attentive, mindful engagement — savouring literature, music, or a moment. Casual or hurried consumption would not use this word; the nuance is one of depth and deliberate appreciation.

Examples

1. 地元の旬の魚を丁寧に味わうのが、この料亭の楽しみだ。 Carefully savouring the local seasonal fish is one of the pleasures of this traditional restaurant.
2. 苦労を味わった分だけ、成功の喜びはひとしお大きい。 The more hardship one has savoured, the greater the joy of success feels.
3. 名作の文章をゆっくり味わいながら読むのが好きだ。 I enjoy slowly savouring the prose of literary masterpieces as I read.

Usage Guide

Context: food, arts, culture, daily life

Tone: appreciative

Origin & History

From 味 (aji, taste/flavour) combined with the verb suffix -wau, indicating the act of experiencing. The kanji 味 depicts a mouthful of something, suggesting direct sensory engagement.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal