賞味する

• Reading: しょうみする
• Romaji: shoumi suru
• Kanji breakdown: 賞 (shou) — appreciate, prize; 味 (mi) — taste, flavour
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.mi.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To relish; to savour. To eat or drink something with full appreciation of its flavour and quality.

A suru-verb with a more refined and literary nuance than simply 食べる or 味わう. Implies deliberate, mindful enjoyment of food or drink, often in a special or elevated context. Frequently seen in food writing, restaurant reviews, and formal invitations to dine. The noun form 賞味 also appears in the compound 賞味期限.

Examples

1. 高級レストランでフランス料理を賞味した。 I savored French cuisine at a high-end restaurant.
2. 産地直送の新鮮な魚を賞味する機会を得た。 I had the chance to savor fresh fish shipped directly from the source.
3. ゆっくりとワインを賞味するのが週末の楽しみだ。 Slowly savoring wine is my weekend pleasure.

Usage Guide

Context: dining, food writing, hospitality

Tone: refined

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 賞 (shou, appreciate/prize) + 味 (mi, taste/flavour). Literally 'to prize the taste' — eating as an act of appreciation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated