薄い

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 薄い紙を使う。▶ —
   I use thin paper.
2. 味が薄い。▶ —
   The flavor is weak.

Collocations

Mnemonic

うすい — 薄い, Yamato. An i-adjective. The opposite of 厚い atsui-thick. The kanji 薄 = 艹 (grass) + 溥 (spread thinly) ── 'grass spread out flat' = thinness. The cleverness of Japanese is that one word covers four whole domains ── thickness: 薄い紙 (thin paper), 薄い本 (thin book). flavour / concentration: 味が薄い (weak flavour), コーヒーが薄い (weak coffee). colour: 薄い色 (pale colour), 薄い青 (pale blue). abstract: 関係が薄い (a thin relationship), 可能性が薄い (low probability). Where Korean splits yalda / yeotda / mukda / huibakada into four words, Japanese folds them all under one. A core word of Japanese cuisine ── 薄味 usu-aji (light flavour) is the signature of 京都 Kyoto-style cooking, the cultural code that lets 素材の味 (the ingredient's own taste) come through. The Korean reading bak is sister to the onyomi はく.

Quick check

1. Order of Japans ramen richness matrix?

   • Usu-aji → assari → kotteri progression
   • No taste → normal → spicy
   • Sweet → spicy → bitter
   • Soup → noodles → toppings