What does “Umai (うまい)” mean in Japanese?

What does “Umai (うまい)” mean in Japanese?

Umai (うまい)

Meaning: Tasty, Someone is good or skillful

Romaji: Umai

Hiragana: うまい

Katakana: ウマイ

Kanji: 美味い, 上手い, 旨い

Antonym: まずい, 下手

Synonym: Uma(うま), Umee(うめえ)

Taste

Umai is a word used when food is delicious. Delicious is “Oishii” in Japanese, but Umai is a more frank word than Oishii.

Both men and women use Umai, but I get the impression that men use it more often. For women, it seems more elegant to say oishii.

I have the impression that when men eat together, they use umai rather than oishii. Besides umai, uma and umee have the same meaning and are used in the same way. As for umee, the way to say it is dirtier than umai, so women rarely use it. Men would be surprised if a woman says umee while eating pizza.

Skillful

Umai is used for technically excellent people. Also, the way things are done is skillful and efficient.

・うまい絵
Umai e
Good picture.

・人使いがうまい
hitodukai ga umai
Good at handling people.

When we see someone good at sports, we also use Uma and Umee as an interjection.

・あの人、投げるのうま!!
Ano hito nageruno uma!!
That person is good at throwing!

Relationship

Umai is used mainly when men and women are on good terms.

・彼女とはうまくやってるよ
Kanoji toha umaku yatteruyo
I’m on good terms with her.

Things go the way I want

・うまい話には気をつけろ
Umai hanashi niwa kiwotsukero
Beware of good news.

・うまくいけばいいね!
Umaku ikeba iine!
I hope you go well.

Umai Umai from Rengoku

Speaking of Umai Umai, have you heard the line that the demon slayer Rengoku used to say?

18 Best Quotes By Kyojuro Rengoku In Japanese From Demon Slayer

About SAIGO

I am writing articles with the intention of conveying the idea of "Good old Japan" from the perspective of Japanese people.

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