Two words for delicious
Oishii is the default. It works in every register, from a child's lunchbox to a formal banquet, and adding desu makes it polite enough for anyone.
Umai says the same thing with more force and less polish. It is the word shouted after the first bite of a great bowl of ramen, and it often shrinks to a single clipped syllable in excitement.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おいしい！ | Oishii! | Delicious! |
| おいしいです。 | Oishii desu. | It's delicious: polite |
| うまい！ | Umai! | So good!: casual |
| うまっ！ | Uma! | Wow, good!: very casual, excited |
Choosing by situation
The choice depends on who is listening more than on the food. Umai belongs with friends, family and casual places; oishii works everywhere, including those places.
Umai has traditionally carried a masculine image, and some listeners still associate it with men. Many women use it casually now, but if you are unsure, oishii never sounds out of place.
| Situation | Safer word | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner at a host family's home | Oishii | Polite and warm |
| Business meal with a client | Oishii with desu | Casual words sound careless |
| Ramen with friends | Either | Umai sounds natural and hearty |
| Talking to a chef or shop owner | Oishii | Respectful praise of their work |
| Eating alone and enjoying it | Either | Nobody is listening |
Umai also means skilled
Umai has a second, completely different meaning: good at something. In that sense it is often written with different kanji, but in speech the context tells you which meaning is intended.
The adverb umaku, well or successfully, is extremely common and worth learning early.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 絵がうまいね。 | E ga umai ne. | You're good at drawing |
| うまくいった！ | Umaku itta! | It went well! |
| うまく言えないけど…… | Umaku ienai kedo… | I can't put it well, but… |
| 説明がうまいですね。 | Setsumei ga umai desu ne. | You explain things well |
Oishisō and other reactions
Japanese reacts to food at every stage: when it is seen, when it is smelled and when it is tasted. Having a phrase for each stage makes you a much more pleasant person to eat with.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おいしそう！ | Oishisō! | That looks delicious! |
| いい匂い。 | Ii nioi. | It smells good |
| 本当においしいです。 | Hontō ni oishii desu. | It's really delicious |
| これ、やみつきになる。 | Kore, yamitsuki ni naru. | This is addictive |
| 優しい味ですね。 | Yasashii aji desu ne. | It has a gentle, comforting flavour |
At someone's table
Eating a meal someone has cooked for you calls for more than one oishii. Asking a small question about the dish shows genuine interest, and it keeps the conversation going naturally.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いただきます。 | Itadakimasu. | Said before eating |
| とてもおいしいです。 | Totemo oishii desu. | It's very delicious |
| これは手作りですか。 | Kore wa tezukuri desu ka. | Is this homemade? |
| 作り方を教えてもらえますか。 | Tsukurikata o oshiete moraemasu ka. | Could you teach me how to make it? |
| ごちそうさまでした。 | Gochisōsama deshita. | Thank you for the meal |
When it does not taste good
The opposite of oishii is mazui, and it is blunt. Said about someone's cooking it is hurtful, and it also means that is bad news, as in mazui, okureru, uh-oh, I will be late.
Polite Japanese shifts the focus from the food to your taste. Nigate, something you are not good with, is the key word.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ちょっと苦手です。 | Chotto nigate desu. | I'm not very good with this |
| 私には少し辛いです。 | Watashi ni wa sukoshi karai desu. | It's a little spicy for me |
| 独特の味ですね。 | Dokutoku no aji desu ne. | It has a unique flavour |
| もうお腹いっぱいです。 | Mō onaka ippai desu. | I'm already full |
| まずい、遅れる！ | Mazui, okureru! | Uh-oh, I'm going to be late! |