甘辛い
あまからい
i-adjective
sweet and salty; sweet-and-savory
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 甘辛い | 甘辛くない |
| Past | 甘辛かった | 甘辛くなかった |
| て form | 甘辛くて | 甘辛くなくて |
| Adverbial | 甘辛く | — |
| Conditional ば | 甘辛ければ | 甘辛くなければ |
| Conditional たら | 甘辛かったら | 甘辛くなかったら |
1.
sweet and salty; sweet-and-savory
A characteristic Japanese flavor profile combining sweetness (often from sugar or mirin) with the savory saltiness of soy sauce. Typical of teriyaki, simmered dishes, and many sauces — not "sweet and spicy" despite the literal kanji.
Despite containing 辛い (spicy/salty), this word almost always refers to the soy-sauce-and-sugar flavor of Japanese home cooking, not chili heat. Think teriyaki, sukiyaki broth, or simmered fish.
Common collocations
- 甘辛いタレ: sweet-and-savory sauce
- 甘辛い味付け: sweet-and-savory seasoning
- 甘辛い煮物: sweet-and-savory simmered dish