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 isa phono-semantic compound comprised of 口 (mouth) as the semantic component and 未 as the phonetic component (ミ).

Want to submit a manga example for this kanji?

Flavor

(Sourness)

酸味(さんみ) means a sour taste or the degree of sourness in food and drink.

It combines 酸 (sour) with 味 (taste) to show a sour taste.

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of That coffee with それ.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 11

Cocoa tries to show off her ability to recognize the three types of coffee Chino made for her.

ココア:
「この酸味(さんみ)…キリマンジャロだね」
“This acidity… it's definitely Kilimanjaro.”
チノ:
「それがブルーマウンテンです」
“That is Blue Mountain.”
View Full Example

Interest

(Hobby)

趣味(しゅみ) means a hobby pursued for enjoyment. It can also mean personal taste or preference.

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.”
View Full Example

Meaning

(Meaning)

意味(いみ) is the meaning or point of a word, statement, action, or event.

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.”
View Full Example