ほろ苦(にが)い

ほろにがい
adjective (i)
bittersweet, slightly bitter
1. slightly bitter, with a mild bitterness
Describes a taste that has a pleasant, mild bitterness.
このチョコレートはほろ苦(にが)い。
This chocolate is slightly bitter.
ほろ苦(にが)いコーヒーが好(す)きだ。
I like slightly bitter coffee.
春(はる)の山菜(さんさい)のほろ苦(にが)い味(あじ)が楽(たの)しめる季節(きせつ)になった。
The season has come when you can enjoy the slightly bitter flavor of spring mountain vegetables.
2. bittersweet
Describes an experience or memory that is a mixture of happiness and sadness, or pleasure and pain.
ほろ苦(にが)い思(おも)い出(で)だ。
It's a bittersweet memory.
初恋(はつこい)のほろ苦(にが)さ。
The bittersweetness of first love.
青春(せいしゅん)のほろ苦(にが)い記憶(きおく)は、今(いま)でも胸(むね)に残(のこ)っている。
The bittersweet memories of youth still remain in my heart.

FORMS:

  • Adverbial: ほろ苦(にが)く
  • Noun form: ほろ苦(にが)さ (bittersweetness)
  • Negative: ほろ苦(にが)くない

COMPONENTS:
ほろ (slightly, faintly) + 苦(にが)い (bitter). The prefix ほろ softens the bitterness.

USAGE:
Sense 1 (taste) is commonly used for dark chocolate, coffee, beer, and mountain vegetables. Sense 2 (figurative) is used for memories, especially of youth, first love, or past experiences that were both painful and precious.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ほろ苦(にが)い味(あじ): slightly bitter taste
  • ほろ苦(にが)い思(おも)い出(で): bittersweet memory
  • ほろ苦(にが)い青春(せいしゅん): bittersweet youth
general
Added 2026.2.8 6:20
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