美味しそう
The Japanese phrase for 'something looks good' is 美味しそう.
美味しそう is used almost exclusively for food and drink to express that something looks appetizing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite way to seek agreement from a listener, such as when dining with others, you can use 美味しそうですね (looks good, doesn't it?). If you are among friends or family, you can use the informal exclamation 美味しそう！ by dropping the copula.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to use the phrase as an adverb to describe an action, such as 'eating deliciously', change the ending to the adverbial form 美味しそうに.
Did you know?
- If you use 美味しそう to describe a person, it is not a compliment about their looks but can imply they look 'tasty', which is often interpreted as sexually suggestive.
- In professional food photography or 'food porn' culture in Japan, the visual appeal described by 美味しそう is often called シズル感 (shizuru-kan), derived from the English word 'sizzle'.
- While 美味しい is the standard word for 'delicious', in the Kansai region of Osaka and Kyoto, people frequently use 旨そう (uma-sō) to say something looks good.
Examples in context
- 美味しそうですね。Oishisou desu ne.That looks delicious.
- 美味しそう！Oishisou!Looks yummy!
- このケーキはとても美味しそうです。Kono keeki wa totemo oishisou desu.This cake looks very delicious.
Example conversation
Youta and Himari are looking at a menu in a cafe.
- 陽太 Yotaこのパスタ、美味しそう！Kono pasuta, oishisou!This pasta looks good!
- 陽葵 Himari本当だね。私もそれにしようかな。Hontou da ne. Watashi mo sore ni shiyou kana.It really does. I think I'll have that too.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵の選ぶ料理はいつも美味しそうだよ。Himari no erabu ryouri wa itsumo oishisou da yo.The food you choose always looks good, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。楽しみだね！Arigatou. Tanoshimi da ne!Thanks. I'm looking forward to it!
