By Ayano’s Japanese Learning Hub𓂃𖧷

In this bite-sized and informative video, Ayano from Ayano's Japanese Learning Hub𓂃𖧷 serves a helpful and fun Japanese language lesson focusing on how to express taste reactions in everyday conversations. Perfect for language learners, especially those preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), this video dives into authentic expressions ranging from 'delicious' to 'downright awful.'

Ayano breaks down levels of food enjoyment into five escalating terms. Starting with the mild 'まぁまぁ (maa maa)' meaning 'not bad,' viewers are introduced to increasingly enthusiastic expressions like 'イケる (ikeru)' for 'actually good,' '美味しい (oishii)' translating to 'it's good,' and 'うまっ (uma)' which conveys strong approval similar to 'it's sooo good.' The explosion of flavor peaks at 'やばっ (yaba),' a slang expression that can mean 'it’s insane!' when used in a positive context.

But Ayano doesn’t stop at just expressions for tasty food—she also groans her way through levels of displeasure for less-than-stellar cuisine. The video covers expressions like '微妙（びみょう-bimyou)' meaning 'meh…' followed by '美味しくない (oishikunai)' for 'not good,' and ramps up the distaste to 'まずい (mazui)' or 'it tastes bad.' Things reach the culinary danger zone at 'まずっ (mazu)'—roughly 'yuck'—and surprisingly again, 'やばっ (yaba)' but this time used negatively to imply that the food is 'disgusting!'

This concise guide is great for anyone looking to sound more like a native speaker when talking about food in Japanese. Whether you're visiting Japan and eating your way through regional cuisine or studying Japanese with the goal of fluency, understanding and using these real-life expressions can help you connect more naturally with the language and culture.

Tune in and start expressing your food reviews fluently in Japanese!