Japanese with Manga

Taste and meaning with

味 refers to the “flavor” of food and drink, as well as the “character” of things.

Etymology

This kanji is a phono-semantic compound comprised of 口 (mouth) and 未 as the sound component. The image is of the mouth receiving and judging what it encounters, which later widen to more abstract “taste” in life and language.

Flavor

(Best flavor)

賞味(しょうみ) refers to enjoying food and drink by savoring their deliciousness, or taking the time to fully appreciate their flavor.

It combines 賞 (appreciate) with 味 (flavor) to show flavor worth appreciating.

Manga panel from 三ツ星カラーズ showing example of Sell-by date with 期限.
三ツ星カラーズ » Volume 2 » Page 102

The confectionery shop owner is out shopping when the trio Colors appears.

おかし屋(や):
「カラーズちゃんあとでうち寄(よ)って期限(きげん)近(ちか)いおかし持(も)ってってよ」
“Colors, stop by my place later and take some of these snacks that are near their sell-by date.”
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Interest

(Hobby)

趣味(しゅみ) refers to activities that individuals engage in regularly for their own enjoyment, separate from their work or profession. It is also used to describe the appeal of an object or a person’s personal preferences.

It combines 趣 (inclination) with 味 (taste) to show one’s personal taste or inclination.

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of Might have similar tastes with 〜かもしれない.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 92

At the library, Cocoa thinks she’s realized which book Chino is trying to find, but forgot the title of.

ココア:
「今(いま)まで気付(きづ)かなかったけど」
“I didn't notice until now, but...”
「私(わたし)本(ほん)の趣味(しゅみ)合(あ)うのかもしれないねっ」
“...maybe we have similar taste in books.”
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Meaning

(Meaning)

意味(いみ) refers to the content conveyed by words or actions, as well as the intentions or values embedded within them.

It combines 意 (idea) with 味 (taste) to show the flavor of an idea, that is, its meaning.

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of Wanting to burn fliers with 〜たい.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 8

Seeing Syaro handing out advertisement fliers. When Syaro says she can’t go home until she’s done with them, Cocoa likens her to the fabled little match girl.

ココア:
「そんなにチラシ燃(も)やしたかった？」
“Did you really want to burn the fliers that badly?”
「マッチならあるよ」
“I've got some matches.”
シャロ:
「そういう意味(いみ)じゃない」
“That's not what I meant.”
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