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How to say 'Delicious' or 'Skilled' in Japanese | うまい

Wondering how to say 'Delicious' or 'Skilled' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Delicious or Skilled is 'Umai', written as うまい in Japanese.

    Meaning

    Delicious, Skilled

    Reading

    Umai

    Explanation

    The Japanese adjective 'うまい (うまい)' has two primary meanings. The first is 'delicious', used to describe food or drink that tastes very good. For example: this sushi is delicious「この寿司はうまい」(このすしはうまい). The second meaning is 'skilled', referring to someone who is proficient or adept at a particular activity. For example: he is skilled at playing the guitar「彼はギターを弾くのがうまい」(かれはギターをひくのがうまい). The context usually clarifies which meaning is intended, as the first is related to taste and the second to ability. Note that 'うまい' is casual and often used in informal settings.

    Part Of Speech

    adjective

    Frequency

    624

    Composition

    hiragana

    Handwriting

This word is an i-adjective. To learn how it transforms in different tenses and forms, explore all its conjugations.

Hiragana in the Word うまい

This word contains 3 Hiragana characters :

  • hiragana

    Reading

    U
  • hiragana

    Reading

    Ma
  • hiragana

    Reading

    I

Learn the Word うまい

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What does 'Umai' (うまい) mean?

'Umai' means 'Delicious' or 'Skilled' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.