Japanese word

甘い

Pronunciation

Romajiamai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivesweet

Example

このりんごは甘いです。ko no ri n go wa ama i de su

This apple is sweet.

Illustration for 甘い (sweet)

More examples

このいちごは甘いです。ko no i chi go wa ama i de su

This strawberry is sweet.

このジュースは思ったより甘いです。ko no jū su wa omo tta yo ri ama i de su

This juice is sweeter than I expected.

Core concept

It centers on pleasant sweetness, with the same idea extending to a person or judgment that lacks necessary strictness or caution.

Common phrases

  • 甘いものama i mo no

    sweet things

  • 甘い飲み物ama i no mi mono

    sweet drinks

  • 甘い香りama i kao ri

    sweet smell

  • 甘い味ama i aji

    sweet taste

Similar words

甘ったるいamattarui: Having an excessively strong sweetness that feels heavy.

Definition in Japanese

砂糖のような快い味がするさま。転じて、物事を楽観しすぎて厳しさや用心が足りないさま。sa tō no yō na kokoroyo i aji ga su ru sa ma ten ji te mono goto o rak kan shi su gi te kibi shi sa ya yō jin ga ta ri na i sa ma

Word origin

甘い (amai) continues the older form 甘し (amashi), a native adjective built around 甘 (ama, "sweet"); the ending changed as Japanese adjective forms developed.

Usage tips

  • A drink can be 甘い (amai) even when it contains no visible sugar, because the adjective describes perceived sweetness rather than a particular ingredient.

Other meanings

  • sugaryi-adjective
  • naivei-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 甘さamasasweetnessnoun
  • 甘みamamisweetnessnoun

Word lists with this word