味 覚(みかく)

みかく

noun

sense of taste

sense

1. sense of taste; gustation

The ability to perceive flavors through taste buds on the tongue. One of the five senses.

味覚(みかく)は年齢(ねんれい)とともに変(か)わることがある。

The sense of taste can change with age.

味覚(みかく)が敏感(びんかん)な人(ひと)は料理人(りょうりにん)に向(む)いている。

People with a sensitive sense of taste are suited to be chefs.

風邪(かぜ)で味覚(みかく)がおかしくなった。

My sense of taste became strange due to a cold.

子供(こども)は味覚(みかく)が発達(はったつ)する途中(とちゅう)なので、好(す)き嫌(きら)いが多(おお)い。

Children are still developing their sense of taste, so they tend to be picky eaters.

秋(あき)の味覚(みかく)を楽(たの)しむために、家族(かぞく)で栗(くり)拾(ひろ)いに出(で)かけた。

To enjoy the flavors of autumn, we went out chestnut picking as a family.

味覚 is used figuratively here to mean seasonal delicacies

味覚(みかく) refers to the sense of taste.

Basic tastes recognized in Japanese:

甘味(あまみ) (sweetness)
塩味(しおあじ)/塩味(えんみ) (saltiness)
酸味(さんみ) (sourness)
苦味(にがみ) (bitterness)
うま味(み) (umami - savory taste)

Common expressions

味覚(みかく)が発達(はったつ)している (to have a developed sense of taste)
味覚(みかく)障害(しょうがい) (taste disorder)
秋(あき)の味覚(みかく) (autumn's flavors - seasonal foods)

Note

The Japanese chemist Ikeda Kikunae identified うま味(み) in 1908; it is now counted as the fifth basic taste. 味覚(みかく) is also used figuratively in expressions like 「秋(あき)の味覚(みかく)」 meaning autumn's delicacies (chestnuts, persimmons, sanma, etc.).

Related Words

Related: 嗅覚(きゅうかく) (sense of smell)

Related: 触覚(しょっかく) (sense of touch)

Related: 感覚(かんかく) (sense, sensation, feeling)

Related: 視覚(しかく) (sight, vision, visual sense)

Related: 聴力(ちょうりょく) (hearing, hearing ability)

Related: 五感(ごかん) (the five senses)

core

Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.10.7 4:24

04000/04424_mikaku