How to Say "It Tastes Good" in Japanese

美味しい

oishii[o̞iɕii]

In Japanese, "it tastes good" is said as 美味しい (oishii).

The phrase is used to say that food or drink has a pleasant flavor.

Which one should you use?

While 美味しい is standard, the word うまい is a more casual, often masculine-coded way to say something tastes good.

To say "it tasted good" in a polite way, change the adjective to the past tense form 美味しかったです.

oishii

The word 美味しい is historically linked to 女房詞, a specialized vocabulary used by ladies-in-waiting in the imperial court to communicate with one another.
Japanese culture has a concept called 旨味 (umami), which describes a fifth basic taste that is distinct from sweet, sour, salty and bitter.
While 美味しい is the standard, the more casual version うまい can also mean 'skillful' or 'proficient' at a task, such as playing an instrument.

美味しいと思う。
I think it tastes good.
This sentence shows how to express an opinion that something is delicious using 美味しい.
Tatoeba #8635926 by small_snow, translation #5588316 by CK
臭いけど、美味しいのよ。
This smells bad, but it tastes good.
This sentence contrasts a bad smell with the fact that the food is 美味しい.
Tatoeba #10177290 by small_snow, translation #1898065 by CK
この料理はとてもおいしいです。
This dish is very delicious.
ごちそうさまでした。おいしかったです。
Thank you for the meal. It was delicious.
このケーキ、おいしい！
This cake is delicious!
このラーメン、うまいね！
This ramen is tasty, isn't it?
このチョコレートはとてもおいしいです！
This chocolate is very delicious!
おなかがぺこぺこで、何でもおいしいです！
I'm so hungry that everything tastes delicious!
このスープ、すごく美味しい！
Kono sūpu, sugoku oishii!
This soup is really delicious!

Yui and Ren are eating lunch together at a cafe.

結衣 Yui

このケーキ、美味しい？
Kono kēki, oishii?
Is this cake good?
蓮 Ren

うん、すごく美味しいよ。
Un, sugoku oishii yo.
Yeah, it's very delicious.
結衣 Yui

本当？私も食べてみたい。
Hontō? Watashi mo tabete mitai.
Really? I want to try it too.
蓮 Ren

半分あげるね。
Hanbun ageru ne.
I'll give you half.

Sources

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