味わう|あじわうajiwau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto taste; to savor; to savour; to relish
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto appreciate; to enjoy; to relish; to digest
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto experience; to go through; to taste (e.g. victory); to know (e.g. pain)
    あのテーマパークでスリルを味あじわった。↗
    We had a thrilling time at the theme park.
Conjugation
Dictionary form味わう(あじわう)
Polite (masu)味わいます(あじわいます)
Negative (nai)味わわない(あじわわない)
polite (masen)味わいません(あじわいません)
classical zu / nu味わわず・味わわぬ(あじわわず・あじわわぬ)
Past (ta)味わった(あじわった)
polite (mashita)味わいました(あじわいました)
Past negative (nakatta)味わわなかった(あじわわなかった)
polite (masen deshita)味わいませんでした(あじわいませんでした)
Te form味わって(あじわって)
Potential味わえる(あじわえる)
Passive味わわれる(あじわわれる)
Causative味わわせる(あじわわせる)
Causative passive味わわせられる・味わわされる(あじわわせられる・あじわわされる)
Conditional (ba)味わえば(あじわえば)
tara味わったら(あじわったら)
Volitional味わおう(あじわおう)
polite (mashou)味わいましょう(あじわいましょう)
Imperative味わえ(あじわえ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym賞味しょうみNeutralSavoring the taste of food; mostly limited to food, as in 「賞味期限」.
  • Synonym楽しむたのしむNeutralTo enjoy or have fun, as in 「旅行を楽しむ」; stresses pleasure rather than careful savoring.
  • Synonym玩味がんみWrittenWritten word for savoring food or the meaning of a text closely, as in 「熟読玩味」.
  • Synonym賞玩しょうがんWrittenWritten word for admiring and treasuring something, or for tasting; rarely used.
  • Related感じるかんじるNeutralSimply to feel or sense something, as in 「寒さを感じる」; no nuance of savoring slowly.
  • RelatedなめるNeutralTo lick; also to go through hardship, as in 「辛酸をなめる」, or to underestimate someone.
  • Related享受きょうじゅWrittenWritten word for enjoying rights or benefits, as in 「自由を享受する」.
  • Related満喫まんきつNeutralEnjoying something to the full, as in 「休日を満喫する」; stresses getting the most out of it.
  • Related味見あじみNeutralSampling food to check its taste or seasoning, as in 「スープの味見」; about checking, not savoring.
  • Related毒味どくみNeutralTasting food or drink for poison, or checking a dish's flavor; has an old-fashioned air.

Use 「味わう」 for tasting a flavor or savoring a feeling or experience, as in 「料理を味わう」 and 「苦しみを味わう」. To check how something tastes, pick 「味見」; for enjoying something to the full, 「満喫」 or 「楽しむ」; for enjoying rights or privileges, 「享受」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 味あじを楽たのしむ
  2. 玩味がんみする
  3. 身みにしみて経験けいけんする
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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