苦い
にがい
adjective (i-adjective)
bitter
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 苦い | 苦くない |
| Past | 苦かった | 苦くなかった |
| て form | 苦くて | 苦くなくて |
| Adverbial | 苦く | — |
| Conditional ば | 苦ければ | 苦くなければ |
| Conditional たら | 苦かったら | 苦くなかったら |
1.
bitter (taste)
Describes a sharp, unpleasant taste like coffee, certain vegetables, or medicine.
2.
bitter, painful (experience)
Figuratively describes an unpleasant or painful experience or memory.
Used of a sharp, unpleasant taste — コーヒー, 薬, strong green vegetables. Most of its non-food use is figurative, describing experiences and memories one would rather not have had.
Noun forms:
- 苦さ — bitterness as a quality or degree
- 苦み — a bitter taste, or the bitter element in a food or drink
Fixed expressions:
- 苦い顔をする — to look displeased or pained; it says nothing about taste
- 苦い経験, 苦い思い出 — a bitter experience, a painful memory
Taste adjectives: 苦い (bitter), 甘い (sweet), 辛い (spicy, hot), 酸っぱい (sour), 塩辛い (salty).