美味しい
oishii[o̞iɕii]
The Japanese phrase for tasty is 美味しい (oishii).
美味しい is used to describe food or drink that has a pleasant flavor, such as tea or wine. While it is the standard way to express that something is tasty, you might also encounter terms like ごちそう, which refers specifically to a delicious and luxurious meal or treat.
Which one should you use?
美味しい is the standard term for delicious or tasty. In contrast, うまい is more colloquial and can sometimes sound rough depending on the context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
うまい is an informal term and is often considered more masculine-coded than 美味しい. For expressing strong admiration in casual conversations, you might hear the phrase めっちゃうまい.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase めっちゃうまい is commonly heard in western Japan, including areas such as Osaka and Kyoto. In Hiroshima, the word うまし is used to mean tasty or good.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that food was tasty in the past tense, use the past form 美味しかったです.
How do you pronounce it?
oishii
Did you know?
- The phrase 美味しい is believed to have originated as nyōbo kotoba, or 'women's language', used specifically by ladies-in-waiting in the imperial court.
- While うまい means 'tasty', it is also the standard word for being 'skillful' or 'good at' a particular activity.
- In Japanese culture, saying 美味しい repeatedly while eating is often seen as a way to show gratitude to the cook rather than just describing the food.
Examples in context
- それ美味しい？Is that tasty?This sentence is useful for asking if something is tasty using 美味しい.Tatoeba #11571052 by small_snow, translation #9131542 by megamanenm
- 魚、美味しい？Is the fish tasty?This sentence is useful for asking if the fish is tasty using 美味しい.Tatoeba #11831398 by small_snow, translation #10736576 by ddnktr
- サラダ、美味しい？Is the salad tasty?This sentence is useful for asking if the salad is tasty using 美味しい.Tatoeba #12144435 by small_snow, translation #10166501 by ddnktr
- このケーキはおいしいです。This cake is tasty.
- ごちそうさまでした。That was a delicious feast (Thank you for the meal).
- このラーメン、すごくうまいよ。This ramen is really tasty.
- このチョコレート、うますぎる！This chocolate is insanely delicious!
- この焼肉、めっちゃうまいわ。This grilled meat is seriously delicious!
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are eating lunch together.
- 結衣 Yuiこのケーキ、本当に美味しい！Kono kēki, hontō ni oishii!This cake is really tasty!
- 大翔 Hirotoいいな。一口ちょうだい。Ii na. Hitokuchi chōdai.Lucky you. Give me a bite.
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ。はい、どうぞ。Ii yo. Hai, dōzo.Sure. Here you go.
- 大翔 Hirotoわあ、確かに美味しいね！Wā, tashika ni oishii ne!Wow, it really is tasty!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 美味しい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 美味しい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
