味

• Reading: あじ
• Romaji: aji
• Kanji breakdown: 味 (aji/mi) — taste, flavour
• Pronunciation: /a.dʑi/

Meaning

Flavour; taste. The sensation perceived when eating or drinking.

Used literally for the taste of food and drink, and figuratively to describe the quality or character of something (e.g. 味のある人, aji no aru hito, a person with character). Common compounds include 味方 (mikata, ally) and 意味 (imi, meaning).

Examples

1. この料理は味がいいですね。 This dish tastes great, doesn't it?
2. もう少し味を見てください。 Please taste it a little more.
3. 母の味が一番好きです。 I like my mother's cooking the best.

Usage Guide

Context: food, cooking, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 味 combines 口 (mouth) and 未 (not yet), originally suggesting something the mouth has not yet fully experienced — the sensation of tasting.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal