甘い|あまいamai[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. i-adjectivesweet-tasting; sweet; sugary; sugared
    This chocolate is very sweet and tasty.
  2. i-adjectivefragrant (smelling); sweet (music)
    ゆりは甘あまい香かおりがする。↗
    Lilies smell sweet.
  3. i-adjectivelightly salted; light in salt; not spicy
  4. i-adjectivenaive; overly optimistic; soft on; generous; indulgent; easy-going; lenient
    メアリーにはつい甘あまくなってしまう。↗
    I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Mary.
  5. i-adjectivehalf-hearted; not finished properly
  6. i-adjectiveinsufficient; not satisfactory; inadequate; loose
  7. i-adjectivemild
  8. i-adjectivetempting; enticing; luring
    彼女かのじょは彼かれの甘あまい言葉ことばにだまされた。↗
    She was beguiled by his sweet words.
Conjugation
Plain form甘い(あまい)
Polite (desu)甘いです(あまいです)
Negative (kunai)甘くない(あまくない)
polite (ku arimasen)甘くありません(あまくありません)
Past (katta)甘かった(あまかった)
Past negative (kunakatta)甘くなかった(あまくなかった)
Te form (kute)甘くて(あまくて)
Adverbial (ku)甘く(あまく)
Conditional (kereba)甘ければ(あまければ)
kattara甘かったら(あまかったら)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymスイートCasualLoanword with a Western flair; used for sweet wine, melodies, pleasant atmospheres. For the everyday taste of sweetness, 「甘い」 is the natural choice.
  • Synonym甘口あまくちNeutralDescribes a flavour that is mildly sweet or not spicy, as in 「甘口カレー」; the counterpart of 「辛口」. 「甘い」 is the general word for sweet, with a much wider range.
  • Related甘々あまあまCasualColloquial for very sweet, and for couples being lovey-dovey, as in 「甘々なカップル」. Stronger in degree than 「甘い」 and carries a casual, informal tone.
  • Antonym苦いにがいNeutralThe direct opposite of 「甘い」 in taste: bitter. It also figuratively describes painful, unpleasant experiences, as in 「苦い経験」.
  • Antonym塩辛いしおからいNeutralThe opposite of 「甘い」 in its lightly salted sense: strongly salty. In everyday speech 「しょっぱい」 is the more common word.

Default to 「甘い」 for anything sweet. Use 「甘口」 for a mildly sweet, not-spicy taste, 「甘々」 for very sweet or lovey-dovey couples, and 「スイート」 when a stylish, Western feel fits. Antonyms: 「苦い」 bitter, 「塩辛い」 salty.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 糖蜜とうみつのような味あじを感じ取かんじとる。
  2. 快こころよい雰囲気ふんいきで、人ひとを心地ここちよくさせる。
  3. 考え方かんがえかたがてぬるい。簡単かんたんに捉とらえすぎる。
  4. 人ひとへの態度たいどが厳きびしくない。寛大かんだいすぎる。
  5. 精度せいどが低ひくい。技術ぎじゅつや力ちからが不十分ふじゅうぶんである。スポーツなどで、相手あいてに対たいし厳きびしくなく対応たいおうされやすい。
  6. 株価かぶかが安やすく値動ねうごきが少すくない。
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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