甘酸っぱい
あまずっぱい
i-adjective
bittersweet; sweet and sour
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 甘酸っぱい | 甘酸っぱくない |
| Past | 甘酸っぱかった | 甘酸っぱくなかった |
| て form | 甘酸っぱくて | 甘酸っぱくなくて |
| Adverbial | 甘酸っぱく | — |
| Conditional ば | 甘酸っぱければ | 甘酸っぱくなければ |
| Conditional たら | 甘酸っぱかったら | 甘酸っぱくなかったら |
1.
sweet and sour (taste)
Describes a flavor that combines sweetness and sourness, like certain fruits or sauces.
この苺は甘酸っぱくておいしい。
These strawberries are sweet and sour and delicious.
甘酸っぱいソースで鶏肉を食べた。
I ate chicken with sweet and sour sauce.
このみかんは甘酸っぱくて美味しい。
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.
甘酸っぱい青春の思い出。
Bittersweet memories of youth.
初恋の甘酸っぱい記憶が蘇った。
The bittersweet memories of my first love came back.
卒業式の写真を見ると、甘酸っぱい気持ちになる。
When I look at graduation photos, I get a bittersweet feeling.
甘酸っぱい is an i-adjective combining 甘い (sweet) and 酸っぱい (sour). It has both a literal taste meaning and a figurative emotional meaning.
FORMS:
- Adverbial: 甘酸っぱく
- Past: 甘酸っぱかった
TASTE USAGE:
- 甘酸っぱいソース: sweet and sour sauce
- 甘酸っぱい果物: sweet and sour fruit
- Common with berries, citrus, and vinegar-based dishes
EMOTIONAL USAGE:
Describes bittersweet or nostalgic feelings, especially related to:
- 青春: youth
- 初恋: first love
- 思い出: memories
This figurative usage is very common in literature and everyday conversation. The emotional sense evokes a mix of fondness and wistfulness.