Amai is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘sweet’, explained

What does “amai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “amai” to mean ‘sweet’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “amai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “amai”
  • Example #1: how to say “sweet” in Japanese
• Amakunai: the nai form of “amai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not sweet” in Japanese
• Amakatta: the ta form of “amai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was sweet” in Japanese
• Amakute: the te form of “amai”
  • Example #4: how to say “sweet and” in Japanese
• Amakereba : the ba form of “amai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if sweet” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “amai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “amai”.

• amai – 甘い (あまい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘sweet’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this adjective to describe a sweet taste in Japanese. In addition, they occasionally use this as a metaphor for being too optimistic, leaving the final steps of processes undone, or sugary scenes.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “sweet” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ichigo” to say “this strawberry” in Japanese.
• ichigo – 苺 (いちご) : a noun meaning ‘strawberry’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono ichigo” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “amai”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “amai ichigo” to mean a ‘sweet strawberry’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing. Anyway, when we want to describe a sweet taste in Japanese, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “amai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “amakunai”.

Amakunai: the nai form of “amai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “amakunai”.

• amakunai – 甘くない (あまくない) : the nai form of “amai”, which means ‘not sweet’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “amakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• amaku – 甘く (あまく) : one conjugation of “amai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “amakunai” is literally the nai form of “amai” and means ‘not sweet’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not sweet” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• suika – 西瓜 (すいか) : a noun meaning ‘watermelon’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “amakunai”. When we want to say “not sweet” in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Amakatta: the ta form of “amai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “amakatta”.

• amakatta – 甘かった (あまかった) : the ta form of “amai”, which means ‘was sweet’, ‘were sweet’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “amakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• amakat – 甘かっ (あまかっ) : one conjugation of “amai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “amakatta” is literally the ta form of “amai” and means ‘was sweet’, ‘were sweet’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this ta form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was sweet” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ringo” to say “that apple” in Japanese.
• ringo – 林檎 (りんご) : a noun meaning ‘apple’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “ano ringo” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.

This is a typical usage of “amakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “amai”, this ta form is the best option.

Amakute: the te form of “amai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “amakute”.

• amakute – 甘くて (あまくて) : the te form of “amai”, which means ‘sweet’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “amakute” consists of the following two parts:

• amaku – 甘く (あまく) : one conjugation of “amai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “amakute” is literally the te form of “amai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “amakute” is very useful when we want to use “amai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “sweet and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• momo – 桃 (もも) : a noun meaning ‘peach’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• oishii – 美味しい (おいしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘delicious’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “amakute”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “oishii”. When we want to use “amai” in front of another adjective, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Amakereba : the ba form of “amai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “amakereba”.

• amakereba – 甘ければ (あまければ) : the ba form of “amai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘sweet’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “amakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• amakere – 甘けれ (あまけれ) : one conjugation of “amai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “amakereba” is literally the ba form of “amai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “amakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘sweet’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if sweet” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “momo” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• taberu – 食べる (たべる) : a verb meaning ‘to eat’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “amakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “momo ga amakereba”, which means ‘if peaches are sweet’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘sweet’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “amai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• amai – 甘い (あまい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘sweet’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• amakunai – 甘くない (あまくない) : the nai form of “amai”, which means ‘not sweet’ in Japanese.
• amakatta – 甘かった (あまかった) : the ta form of “amai”, which means ‘was sweet’, ‘were sweet’, or such in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “amai”.
• amakute – 甘くて (あまくて) : the te form of “amai”, which means ‘sweet’ in Japanese. When we want to use “amai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• amakereba – 甘ければ (あまければ) : the ba form of “amai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘sweet’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.