Translation guide
Describes the flavor of salt, common in food and cooking. Japanese has several words for salty taste, with the most common being 'shoppai' for everyday saltiness, while 'enmi' is a more formal or culinary term. The adjective 'shio karai' literally means 'salt-spicy' and is also used.
Describing food that tastes salty in casual conversation.
The most common and natural adjective for 'salty' in everyday Japanese. Often used for food that is too salty or has a strong salt flavor.
このスープ、ちょっとしょっぱいね。
This soup is a bit salty, isn't it?
しょっぱいものが食べたい。
I want to eat something salty.
Literally 'salt-spicy', this is a slightly more formal or descriptive adjective for salty. It can also refer to preserved foods like 'shiokara' (salted fish guts).
この漬物は塩辛いです。
These pickles are salty.
A variant kanji writing of しょっぱい, but the kana form is much more common.
このラーメンは塩っぱい。
This ramen is salty.
Referring to saltiness as one of the basic tastes, often in cooking or food descriptions.
A noun meaning 'salty taste' or 'saltiness'. Used in culinary contexts, recipes, and formal descriptions. Can also be read 'しおあじ' but 'えんみ' is more common for the abstract taste.
この料理は塩味が効いている。
This dish has a good salty flavor.
塩味を調整してください。
Please adjust the saltiness.
Refers to the presence of salt or a salty taste, often used for natural saltiness like in seawater or certain foods. Can imply a pleasant or subtle saltiness.
A technical or literary term for salty taste, rarely used in everyday language. Sometimes seen in scientific or traditional contexts.
鹹味は基本味の一つです。
Saltiness is one of the basic tastes.
Expressing that something has too much salt, often as a complaint or warning.
The casual way to say 'too salty'. Formed by adding すぎる to しょっぱい.
このラーメン、しょっぱすぎるよ。
This ramen is way too salty!
The formal version of 'too salty', using 塩辛い.
このみそ汁は塩辛すぎます。
This miso soup is too salty.
しょっぱい is the most common and casual word for salty. 塩辛い is slightly more formal and descriptive, but both are used. しょっぱい can also mean 'stingy' or 'cheap' in slang, but that's a different meaning.
彼はしょっぱい男だ。
He's a stingy guy. (slang)
English speakers sometimes confuse 'salty' and 'sour'. In Japanese, sour is 酸っぱい (すっぱい). Be careful not to mix them up.
このレモンはすっぱい。
This lemon is sour.
しょっぱいお菓子が好きです。
I like salty snacks.
スープにもっと塩味が必要です。
The soup needs more saltiness.
このチーズはほどよい塩気がある。
This cheese has a nice salty taste.