食欲(しょくよく)をそそる

しょくよくをそそる
expression
appetizing; to whet one's appetite
foodevaluation
1. appetizing; to whet one's appetite; mouth-watering
Describes food, aromas, or sights that stimulate the desire to eat.
食欲(しょくよく)をそそる香(かお)りだ。
It's an appetizing aroma.
焼(や)き肉(にく)の匂(にお)いが食欲(しょくよく)をそそる。
The smell of grilled meat whets the appetite.
色鮮(いろあざ)やかな盛(も)り付(つ)けが食欲(しょくよく)をそそり、思(おも)わず写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)ってしまった。
The colorful presentation was so appetizing that I couldn't help taking a photo.

A very common expression for describing food that makes you want to eat. そそる means "to stimulate" or "to arouse," and 食欲(しょくよく) means "appetite."

Common patterns

  • 食欲(しょくよく)をそそる香(かお)り: an appetizing aroma
  • 食欲(しょくよく)をそそる見(み)た目(め): an appetizing appearance
  • 食欲(しょくよく)をそそられる: to have one's appetite stimulated (passive/spontaneous)

THE VERB そそる:
そそる (唆(そそ)る) means to incite, to stimulate, or to provoke. It appears in several set expressions:

Similar words

  • おいしそう: looks delicious — simpler, more casual
  • 美味(おい)しそうな匂(にお)い: a smell that suggests it's delicious — everyday phrasing
  • 食欲(しょくよく)が湧(わ)く: appetite wells up — describes the internal feeling rather than the stimulus
general
Added 2026.4.2 2:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
21000/21304_shokuyokuwososoru