Japanese dictionary
How to say "sweet" in Japanese
甘いあまい · amai
"Sweet" as a taste is 甘い (amai). A sweet, kind person is 優しい (yasashii). Sweets are お菓子 (okashi).
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Ways to say "sweet" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 甘いあまい · amai | Sweet (taste). |
| 優しいやさしい · yasashii | Sweet; kind (person). |
| お菓子おかし · okashi | Sweets; snacks. |
How to use it
"Do you have a sweet tooth?" is 甘いものが好きですか.
甘い can also mean "too easy" or "naive": 考えが甘い.
Example sentences
- このケーキは甘すぎます。Kono kēki wa amasugimasu.This cake is too sweet.
- 甘いものが好きです。Amai mono ga suki desu.I have a sweet tooth.
- 彼はとても優しいです。Kare wa totemo yasashii desu.He's really sweet.
- お土産にお菓子を買いました。O-miyage ni okashi o kaimashita.I bought sweets as a souvenir.
- 甘さ控えめのお菓子をください。Amasa hikaeme no okashi o kudasai.I'd like sweets that aren't too sweet.
- その考えは少し甘いと思います。Sono kangae wa sukoshi amai to omoimasu.I think that's a bit naive.
Questions
What does 甘さ控えめ mean?
甘さ控えめ (amasa hikaeme) means "lightly sweetened," a common label on Japanese sweets and drinks.
Can 甘い mean naive?
Yes. 考えが甘い (kangae ga amai) means someone's thinking is too optimistic or naive.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.