濃厚(のうこう)

のうこう
na-adjective
rich; thick; dense
1. rich; thick; concentrated
having a strong, intense flavor or texture; not watery or diluted
このスープは濃厚(のうこう)な味(あじ)だ。
This soup has a rich flavor.
濃厚(のうこう)なチーズケーキが食(た)べたい。
I want to eat a rich cheesecake.
濃厚(のうこう)なラーメンが好(す)きだ。
I like rich, thick ramen.
2. strong; likely; probable
having a high probability; very likely
事故(じこ)の可能性(かのうせい)が濃厚(のうこう)になってきた。
The possibility of an accident is becoming increasingly likely.
彼(かれ)の関与(かんよ)が濃厚(のうこう)だ。
His involvement is highly likely.
濃厚(のうこう)接触者(せっしょくしゃ)として検査(けんさ)を受(う)けた。
I was tested as a close contact.
During COVID-19, 濃厚(のうこう)接触(せっしょく) (close contact) became a common term.

濃厚(のうこう) describes intensity - either in taste/texture or in probability.

COMPOSITION:

  • 濃(のう): Thick, dense, concentrated
  • 厚(こう): Thick, heavy

FORMS:

  • Attributive: 濃厚(のうこう)な + noun
  • Predicate: 濃厚(のうこう)だ/である
  • Adverbial: 濃厚(のうこう)に

SENSE 1 (TASTE/TEXTURE):

  • Common with food descriptions
  • Opposite of 淡泊(たんぱく) (light, plain)
  • 濃厚(のうこう)なスープ, 濃厚(のうこう)なソース, 濃厚(のうこう)なチョコ

SENSE 2 (PROBABILITY):

  • Common in news/formal contexts
  • 可能性(かのうせい)が濃厚(のうこう) (strong possibility)
  • 疑(うたが)いが濃厚(のうこう) (strong suspicion)

COVID-19 TERM:

  • 濃厚(のうこう)接触(せっしょく)(者(しゃ)) became widely used during the pandemic

RELATED TERMS:

  • 淡泊(たんぱく) (light, plain - antonym for taste)
  • 希薄(きはく) (thin, weak - antonym)
  • 濃(こ)い (thick, strong - more casual)

REGISTER: Neutral. Common in food descriptions and news.

Related Words

Antonym: 淡泊(たんぱく) (light, plain (taste))
general
Added 2026.1.22 14:13 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07500/07905_noukou