What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective oishii (delicious) and the noun tabemono (food).
Which one should you use?
You can use Oishii! to mean "Delicious!" or Umai! to mean "Yummy!" in informal settings. To change the nuance of the phrase, you can swap the components: umai can be used instead of oishii to sound more casual or masculine and replacing tabemono with oshokuji shifts the focus from the substance of food to the act of a meal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite and formal tone, especially in professional or respectful settings, you can use 美味しいお食事. Conversely, うまい食べ物 is an informal way to say "good food".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, people often use the phrase Meccha oishii! to mean "Extremely delicious!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective oishii directly precedes the noun tabemono to modify it.
How do you pronounce it?
oishii tabemono
Did you know?
- While oishii means 'delicious', the word umai also means 'skillful'. A chef might be described as umai because they are good at their craft, and the food they make is also umai.
- In a formal dining setting, it is more common to praise the chef or the meal by saying Gochisousama rather than simply calling the food 'delicious'.
- In Japan, it is common to say oishii several times in a row while eating to show appreciation. Repeating the word emphasizes your enjoyment and serves as a social signal to the host.
Examples in context
- 美味しい食べ物oishii tabemonoYummy food
- 美味しい食べ物を探しています。oishii tabemono o sagashite imasu.I am looking for yummy food.
- この町には美味しい食べ物が多いです。kono machi ni wa oishii tabemono ga ooi desu.There is a lot of yummy food in this town.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Yota are looking at a food market.
- 陽葵 Himari見て、美味しい食べ物がたくさんあるよ！Mite, oishii tabemono ga takusan aru yo!Look, there is so much yummy food!
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。何を食べようか？Hontō da ne. Nani o tabeyō ka?You're right. What should we eat?
- 陽葵 Himariあそこの美味しい食べ物を買おう。Asoko no oishii tabemono o kaō.Let's buy that yummy food over there.
- 陽太 Yotaいいよ。行ってみよう。Ii yo. Itte miyō.Okay. Let's go check it out.
