1.
scum, foam, impurities
The foam or impurities that rise to the surface when boiling meat, vegetables, or other foods. Removing this scum (あく取り) is a basic cooking technique in Japanese cuisine.
スープの灰汁を取る。
I skim the scum off the soup.
肉を煮ると灰汁が出るので、こまめに取り除く。
Scum comes out when you boil meat, so remove it frequently.
灰汁をしっかり取ると、スープが澄んで美味しくなる。
If you skim the scum thoroughly, the soup becomes clear and tasty.
2.
harsh or astringent taste, bitterness
The unpleasant bitter, astringent, or harsh taste found in certain vegetables and wild plants. Removing this harshness (あく抜き) is necessary before eating such ingredients.
ほうれん草は灰汁が強い。
Spinach has a strong astringent taste.
わらびは灰汁抜きをしてから調理する。
Bracken fern must have its bitterness removed before cooking.
山菜は灰汁抜きに手間がかかるが、独特の風味がある。
Wild mountain vegetables take effort to remove the bitterness, but they have a unique flavor.
3.
strong personality, pushiness
Used figuratively to describe a person with a strong, overwhelming, or abrasive personality that can be off-putting to others.
あの人は灰汁が強い。
That person has a very strong personality.
彼の演技は灰汁が強いが、独特の魅力がある。
His acting style is intense and overpowering, but it has a unique charm.
灰汁の強いキャラクターばかりの映画で、見ていて疲れた。
The movie was full of overpowering characters, and I found it tiring to watch.
KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 灰汁 literally means "ash water" — historically, lye was made by filtering water through wood ash. This is an irregular (ateji) reading; the kanji cannot be read character by character to produce あく.
USAGE:
Often written in hiragana (あく) rather than kanji, especially in cooking contexts. The phrase 灰汁が強い is used across all three senses: strong scum, strong bitterness, or strong personality.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 灰汁を取る: to skim scum
- 灰汁抜き: removing bitterness/harshness
- 灰汁が強い: has strong scum/bitterness/personality
- 灰汁取り: scum skimmer (tool or action)