Japanese word of the day: 甘い

What does 甘い (Amai) mean?

甘い (Amai) (い-adjective) – Sweet; sugary; mild. This word is used to describe the taste of things like candy, fruit, and desserts. But 甘い can also mean “lenient,” “naive,” or “optimistic” when describing people or situations, making it a surprisingly versatile word.

Kanji details for 甘

Character: 甘い — sweet, coax, pamper, be content, sugary
Radical: sweet 甘

Example sentences with 甘い (Amai)

• このケーキはとても甘いです。
  (Kono kēki wa totemo amai desu.)
  🍰 This cake is very sweet.

• 甘いものが好きです。
  (Amai mono ga suki desu.)
  🍬 I like sweet things.

• 彼は子供に甘いです。
  (Kare wa kodomo ni amai desu.)
  😊 He’s lenient with children.

甘い (Amai) in context

甘い is most often used for food and drinks that are sweet, but it’s also common in everyday conversation to describe someone who’s too soft or forgiving, or an outlook that’s overly optimistic. For example, a parent who can’t say no to their kids is 甘い, and a plan that doesn’t consider the risks might be called 甘い考え (naive thinking).

A quick tip: If you want to say “not sweet,” use 甘くない (amaku nai). And if you’re talking about a person, remember that calling someone 甘い can be a gentle way to say they’re a bit too easygoing or trusting.

Whether you’re describing your favorite dessert or a friend’s rosy outlook, 甘い is the word for all things sweet-literally and figuratively.