Tastes are the basic sensations we experience when eating or drinking. These sensations help us enjoy food and identify different flavors. The five most commonly recognized tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. Other descriptive words help us talk about textures or intensity of flavors, such as spicy or bland.

Basic Tastes

These are the five primary tastes that form the foundation of flavor.

Basic Tastes Table

EnglishExample SentenceSpanishExample SentenceMandarin (Pinyin)Example Sentence
sweetThis cake is very sweet.dulceEste pastel es muy dulce.甜 (tián)这个蛋糕很甜。 (Zhège dàngāo hěn tián.)
sourThe lemon is sour.ácidoEl limón es ácido.酸 (suān)柠檬很酸。 (Níngméng hěn suān.)
bitterCoffee can be bitter.amargoEl café puede ser amargo.苦 (kǔ)咖啡可能很苦。 (Kāfēi kěnéng hěn kǔ.)
saltyThe soup is salty.saladoLa sopa está salada.咸 (xián)汤很咸。 (Tāng hěn xián.)
umamiMushrooms have an umami flavor.umamiLos champiñones tienen sabor umami.鲜味 (xiānwèi)蘑菇有鲜味。 (Mógū yǒu xiānwèi.)

Additional Taste Descriptions

These words are used to describe more specific or complex taste experiences.

Additional Taste Descriptions Table

EnglishExample SentenceSpanishExample SentenceMandarin (Pinyin)Example Sentence
spicyThe curry is very spicy.picanteEl curry está muy picante.辣 (là)咖喱很辣。 (Gālí hěn là.)
blandThe rice is bland.sosoEl arroz está soso.淡 (dàn)米饭很淡。 (Mǐfàn hěn dàn.)
richThe chocolate cake is rich.ricoEl pastel de chocolate es rico.浓郁 (nóngyù)巧克力蛋糕很浓郁。 (Qiǎokèlì dàngāo hěn nóngyù.)
tangyThe sauce has a tangy flavor.ácidoLa salsa tiene un sabor ácido.有刺激味 (yǒu cìjī wèi)酱汁有刺激味。 (Jiàngzhī yǒu cìjī wèi.)
creamyThe soup is creamy.cremosoLa sopa es cremosa.奶油状 (nǎiyóu zhuàng)汤是奶油状的。 (Tāng shì nǎiyóu zhuàng de.)

Which taste word completes this sentence? "The sauce has a ____."


tangy flavor

"Tangy flavor" means slightly sharp and acidic, which is common in certain sauces. It is more specific than just "sour."

Taste Intensity and Quality

These words help you describe how strong or pleasant a taste is.

Taste Intensity and Quality Table

EnglishExample SentenceSpanishExample SentenceMandarin (Pinyin)Example Sentence
mildThe cheese has a mild flavor.suaveEl queso tiene un sabor suave.口味淡 (kǒuwèi dàn)奶酪味道淡。 (Nǎilào wèidào dàn.)
strongThe wine tastes strong.fuerteEl vino sabe fuerte.浓烈 (nóngliè)葡萄酒味道浓烈。 (Pútáojiǔ wèidào nóngliè.)
deliciousThe soup is delicious.deliciosoLa sopa está deliciosa.美味 (měiwèi)汤很美味。 (Tāng hěn měiwèi.)
awfulThis food tastes awful.horribleEsta comida sabe horrible.难吃 (nán chī)这食物难吃。 (Zhè shíwù nán chī.)
freshThe salad is fresh.frescoLa ensalada está fresca.新鲜 (xīnxiān)沙拉很新鲜。 (Shālā hěn xīnxiān.)

Which taste word completes this sentence? "The soup is ____."


delicious

"Delicious" means very tasty and enjoyable, which is the opposite of "awful." The other choices don’t imply a pleasant taste.

Other Taste-Related Words

These words are useful when talking about food and flavor more generally.

Other Taste-Related Words Table

EnglishExample SentenceSpanishExample SentenceMandarin (Pinyin)Example Sentence
flavorThe flavor of vanilla is sweet.saborEl sabor de vainilla es dulce.味道 (wèidào)香草的味道很甜。 (Xiāngcǎo de wèidào hěn tián.)
aromaThe aroma of the bread is wonderful.aromaEl aroma del pan es maravilloso.香气 (xiāngqì)面包的香气很棒。 (Miànbāo de xiāngqì hěn bàng.)
aftertasteThe wine has a fruity aftertaste.regustoEl vino tiene un regusto afrutado.余味 (yúwèi)葡萄酒有果味余味。 (Pútáojiǔ yǒu guǒwèi yúwèi.)
textureThe texture of the cake is soft.texturaLa textura del pastel es suave.口感 (kǒugǎn)蛋糕的口感很软。 (Dàngāo de kǒugǎn hěn ruǎn.)
palateShe has a refined palate.paladarElla tiene un paladar refinado.味觉 (wèijué)她有很好的味觉。 (Tā yǒu hěn hǎo de wèijué.)

Flashcards (1 of 20)

  • Example Sentence: 这个蛋糕很甜。 (Zhège dàngāo hěn tián.)
  • Mandarin (Pinyin): 甜 (tián)
  • English: sweet

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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