1.
refinement, accomplishment, cultivation
Skills, knowledge, or cultural accomplishments considered befitting a well-bred or cultured person.
茶道は大人の嗜みだ。
The tea ceremony is a refined accomplishment for adults.
武道の嗜みがある。
To have an acquaintance with martial arts.
教養として音楽やお花の嗜みを身につけた。
As part of her education, she acquired the accomplishments of music and flower arranging.
2.
modesty, propriety, decorum
The quality of having good manners and behaving with appropriate restraint and decorum.
身だしなみに気をつける。
To pay attention to one's grooming.
The compound 身だしなみ (personal grooming/appearance) is derived from 嗜み.
人前に出る時は嗜みとして身なりを整えるべきだ。
When appearing in front of others, one should tidy one's appearance as a matter of propriety.
社会人としての嗜みを持つことは大切だ。
It's important to have the decorum expected of a working adult.
USAGE:
A somewhat literary or refined word. Sense 1 often appears in the pattern ～の嗜みがある (to have some skill/knowledge in ~). The compound 身だしなみ (personal grooming, presentation) is very common in everyday Japanese.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大人の嗜み: a refined adult accomplishment
- ～の嗜みがある: to have some cultivation in ~
- 身だしなみ: personal grooming, tidiness
- 嗜みとして: as a matter of propriety