苦味(にがみ)

にがみ
noun
bitterness, bitter taste
1. bitterness, bitter taste, bitter flavor
The quality of being bitter in taste. Used when discussing flavors in food, drink, and cooking. One of the five basic tastes.
このコーヒーは苦味(にがみ)が強(つよ)い。
This coffee has a strong bitterness.
ゴーヤの苦味(にがみ)が苦手(にがて)な人(ひと)も多(おお)い。
Many people dislike the bitterness of bitter melon.
大人(おとな)になるにつれて、苦味(にがみ)のある食(た)べ物(もの)を好(この)むようになる人(ひと)が多(おお)いらしい。
Apparently, many people come to enjoy bitter-tasting foods as they grow older.

USAGE NOTE:
苦味(にがみ) refers specifically to the bitter component of a flavor. It is one of the five basic tastes alongside 甘味(あまみ) (sweetness), 酸味(さんみ) (sourness), 塩味(しおみ) (saltiness), and 旨味(うまみ) (umami).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 苦味(にがみ)が強(つよ)い (strongly bitter)
  • 苦味(にがみ)を感(かん)じる (taste bitterness)
  • 苦味(にがみ)が効(き)いている (the bitterness comes through)
  • 苦味(にがみ)成分(せいぶん) (bitter component)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 苦(にが)さ: bitterness (general quality, can be figurative — bitterness of experience)
  • 渋味(しぶみ): astringency (puckering taste, as in unripe persimmon or strong tea)
  • 酸味(さんみ): sourness, acidity (another taste quality)
general
Added 2026.2.28 9:47
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