1.
sweetness; sweet taste
The degree or quality of being sweet in taste.
この果物は甘さが足りない。
This fruit doesn't have enough sweetness.
砂糖の甘さを控えめにした。
I kept the sweetness of the sugar moderate.
このケーキは甘さと酸っぱさのバランスが絶妙だ。
This cake has an exquisite balance of sweetness and tartness.
2.
leniency; indulgence; naivety
A lack of strictness or severity in one's approach, judgment, or expectations.
自分への甘さを捨てろ。
Stop being easy on yourself.
考えが甘さだと指摘された。
I was told that my thinking was naive.
親の甘さが子どもの成長に影響することもある。
A parent's leniency can sometimes affect a child's development.
The noun form of the adjective 甘い. In its literal sense, it describes the degree of sweetness in food or drink. In its figurative sense, it refers to a lack of strictness — being too lenient, indulgent, or naive in one's thinking or judgment.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 甘さを控える: to reduce sweetness
- 甘さが際立つ: the sweetness stands out
- 自分への甘さ: indulgence toward oneself
- 見通しの甘さ: naivety of one's outlook
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 甘味: sweetness — emphasizes the flavor quality itself, often used in food contexts
- 甘み: the sweet taste or sweet element, especially in cooking
- 辛さ: spiciness/saltiness — the opposite taste quality