甘味, 辛味, 苦味, and 酸味: Taste names and changes
Compare sweetness, spiciness, bitterness, and acidity in the stated food examples. Keep delayed 辛味 and slightly softened 苦味 attached to their timing and degree.
Names for sweetness and spiciness
「焼いた玉ねぎの自然な甘味が広がる。」 — “The natural sweetness of the roasted onions spreads through the dish.” 甘味 names the sweetness spreading from the onion. 「塩を少し加えると果物の甘味が引き立った。」 — “A little salt brought out the fruit's sweetness.” 果物の甘味が引き立った reports the fruit’s sweetness standing out in this particular example, without specifying a general ingredient amount.
「大根の辛味が焼き魚の味を引き締める。」 — “The radish's sharpness complements the grilled fish.” 大根の辛味 names the radish’s spiciness in relation to the grilled fish’s flavor. 「この香辛料を口にすると後から強い辛味を感じる。」 — “This spice produces intense heat after you eat it.” 後から places the sensation later. Do not replace it with a sensation occurring immediately on putting the spice in the mouth.
The targets of bitterness and acidity
「この野菜は加熱すると苦味が少し和らぐ。」 — “Heating this vegetable softens its bitterness slightly.” This vegetable’s 苦味 becomes somewhat milder through 少し和らぐ. 「コーヒーの苦味と甘い菓子がよく合う。」 — “The coffee's bitterness pairs well with the sweet confection.” Read the pairing of the coffee’s bitterness with sweet confectionery. A slight reduction of bitterness is not its complete disappearance.
「この果物には爽やかな酸味があります。」 — “This fruit has a refreshing tartness.” 酸味 names this fruit’s refreshing acidity. 「少量の酢を加えて、料理の酸味を強くした。」 — “I added a little vinegar to make the dish more sour.” 少量の酢を加えて is the action in this example, and 酸味を強くした is the result. Keep it specific rather than prescribing quantities or effects for every dish.
A name with a stated change
甘味, 辛味, 苦味, and 酸味 name sweetness, spiciness, bitterness, and acidity. Follow the target together with the verbs describing spreading, standing out, delayed sensation, softening, or strengthening.
後から強い辛味を感じる places the strong spicy sensation later; 苦味が少し和らぐ describes a slight softening of bitterness. Neither should become immediate sensation or complete removal.
How should the timing and degree be read in 「後から強い辛味を感じる」 and 「苦味が少し和らぐ」?
Show the answer and why
辛味 is felt strongly later, while 苦味 becomes slightly milder. Keep 後から distinct from immediately and 少し distinct from completely disappearing, preserving the taste name and its stated change.