How to say "sour" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 酸っぱいすっぱいi-adjectiveThe common adjective for the sour taste of things like lemon or vinegar. When you want to say that food or drink tastes sour, this is the word to reach for.
- 酸いすいi-adjectiveA less common synonym of 酸っぱい for the same sour, acidic taste. To say something tastes sour, 酸っぱい is the word you will usually want; this one is seldom necessary.
- 苦虫を噛み潰したようにがむしをかみつぶしたようexpression, na-adjectiveAn idiom, literally 'as if having chewed on a bitter bug', describing a sour facial expression — the grimace of someone visibly displeased. It is 'sour' about a person's look, not about taste.
- noun, noun (prefix)A katakana noun referring to the sour taste itself. It names the flavor rather than serving as the adjective for describing food; to say something tastes sour, use 酸っぱい.
- adverb (with と), suru verbA mimetic word for relations that have turned sour — strained, awkward, no longer smooth. Use it when 'sour' describes a relationship or dealings between people, not a flavor.
For sour taste use 「酸っぱい」; for a sour expression use 「苦虫を噛み潰したよう」; for sour relations use 「ギクシャク」. 「酸い」 is a less common synonym of 「酸っぱい」, and 「サワー」 is a noun for the taste itself.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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