こってり

• Reading: こってり
• Romaji: kotteri
• Pronunciation: /ko.tte.ɾi/

Meaning

Thickly; heavily; richly. Describes food with a strong, rich flavour or thick, heavy seasoning.

A mimetic adverb primarily used to describe food with a rich, heavy, or concentrated flavour — the opposite of あっさり (light/plain). Common collocations include こってりしたラーメン (rich ramen), こってり味 (rich flavour), and こってりしたスープ (thick, rich soup). Can also mean 'thoroughly, severely' when describing a scolding (こってり叱られた — to be severely scolded), though the food sense is more common.

Examples

1. このラーメンはこってりしていて食べごたえがある。 This ramen is rich and really filling.
2. こってりした料理が続いたのであっさりしたものが食べたい。 After all the heavy food lately, I want something light.
3. 豚骨スープのこってりとした味が好きだ。 I love the rich flavor of tonkotsu soup.

Usage Guide

Context: food, restaurants, cooking

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

A Japanese mimetic word (擬態語) evoking the sensation of thickness and richness. The っ (geminate consonant) suggests density and weight, creating an impression of something heavy and substantial.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal