濃厚(のうこう)

のうこう
na-adjective
rich; thick; dense
descriptivefood
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.

Etymology

  • 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)

Sense 2 (PROBABILITY)

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 words

Register: Neutral. Common in food descriptions and news.

Related Words

Antonym: 淡泊(たんぱく) (light, plain (taste))
Antonym: 希薄(きはく) (thin, tenuous)
Related: 濃(こ)い (thick, strong)
Related: 芳醇(ほうじゅん) (mellow)
Compare: コク (richness)
general
Added 2026.1.22 14:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07500/07905_noukou