甘酸(あまず)っぱい

あまずっぱい
i-adjective
sweet and sour; bittersweet
descriptive
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present甘酸(あまず)っぱい甘酸(あまず)っぱくない
Past甘酸(あまず)っぱかった甘酸(あまず)っぱくなかった
て form甘酸(あまず)っぱくて甘酸(あまず)っぱくなくて
Adverbial甘酸(あまず)っぱく—
Conditional ば甘酸(あまず)っぱければ甘酸(あまず)っぱくなければ
Conditional たら甘酸(あまず)っぱかったら甘酸(あまず)っぱくなかったら
1. sweet and sour (taste)
Describes a flavor that combines sweetness and sourness, like certain fruits or sauces.
この苺(いちご)は甘酸(あまず)っぱくておいしい。
These strawberries are sweet and sour and delicious.
甘酸(あまず)っぱいソースで鶏肉(とりにく)を食(た)べた。
I ate chicken with sweet and sour sauce.
このみかんは甘酸(あまず)っぱくて美味(おい)しい。
This mandarin orange is sweet and sour and delicious.
2. bittersweet (emotion)
Describes a nostalgic or sentimental feeling that combines happiness and sadness, often associated with youthful memories.
甘酸(あまず)っぱい青春(せいしゅん)の思(おも)い出(で)。
Bittersweet memories of youth.
初恋(はつこい)の甘酸(あまず)っぱい記憶(きおく)が蘇(よみがえ)った。
The bittersweet memories of my first love came back.
卒業式(そつぎょうしき)の写真(しゃしん)を見(み)ると、甘酸(あまず)っぱい気持(きも)ちになる。
When I look at graduation photos, I get a bittersweet feeling.

甘酸(あまず)っぱい is an i-adjective combining 甘(あま)い (sweet) and 酸(す)っぱい (sour). It has both a literal taste meaning and a figurative emotional meaning.

Forms

  • Adverbial: 甘酸(あまず)っぱく
  • Past: 甘酸(あまず)っぱかった

USAGE (taste):

  • 甘酸(あまず)っぱいソース: sweet and sour sauce
  • 甘酸(あまず)っぱい果物(くだもの): sweet and sour fruit
  • Common with berries, citrus, and vinegar-based dishes

Usage

Describes bittersweet or nostalgic feelings, especially related to:

This figurative usage is very common in literature and everyday conversation. The emotional sense evokes a mix of fondness and wistfulness.

Related Words

Related: 甘(あま)い (sweet)
Related: 酸(す)っぱい (sour)
Compare: 甘辛(あまから)い (sweet and salty)
general
Added 2026.1.16 23:51 · Revised 2026.10.11 4:26
05500/05916_amazuppai