sin1 mei6鮮味鲜味
Jyutpingsin1 mei6
Yalesīn meih
Definition
Umami, the savory basic taste; or the fresh, delicious taste of food.
- umami; the fifth basic taste
- the fresh and delicious taste of fresh ingredients
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the savory, natural sweetness derived from high quality ingredients like seafood or slow cooked broths. Unlike the abstract concept of umami in food science, this term is frequently used as an adjective to praise the quality of a dish. It implies that the food is not just tasty, but possesses the specific, clean depth of flavor found in fresh produce.
Examples
This fish soup is really umami.
Do you think this shrimp is umami enough?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe processed or artificial flavors, as it specifically highlights the natural essence of fresh ingredients. It is not a generic word for delicious, which is better expressed by 好食.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
