měiwèi: 美味 - Delicious, Tasty, Savory

• Keywords: měiwèi, 美味, delicious in Chinese, tasty in Chinese, Chinese food vocabulary, how to say delicious in Mandarin, měi, wèi, 好吃 vs 美味, gourmet in Chinese, savory Chinese food.
• Summary: Learn the perfect way to describe a truly special meal in Mandarin with 美味 (měiwèi). This guide explores the meaning of 美味, a word that elevates a dish from simply “tasty” to “delicious” or “gourmet.” We break down its characters, cultural importance, and practical use, contrasting it with the more common 好吃 (hǎochī). With 10 practical examples, you'll learn when to use 美味 (měiwèi) to sound like a natural and appreciative speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): měiwèi
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A word used to describe food that is delicious, savory, or has an exquisite flavor.
• In a Nutshell: 美味 (měiwèi) is a more formal and sophisticated way to say something is delicious compared to the everyday word 好吃 (hǎochī). Think of it as the difference between saying something is “tasty” and saying it's “exquisite” or “a delicacy.” It implies a higher level of quality, preparation, and flavor complexity. You'll often see it on menus, in food reviews, or use it to give a very sincere compliment to a chef or host.

• 美 (měi): This character means “beautiful,” “good,” or “pleasing.” It's the same character found in words like 美丽 (měilì - beautiful) and 美国 (Měiguó - America, literally “the beautiful country”). It suggests a sense of aesthetic pleasure.
• 味 (wèi): This character means “taste” or “flavor.” The top part is 未 (wèi), a phonetic component, and the bottom part is 口 (kǒu), the character for “mouth.” It is directly related to the sense of taste.
• Together, 美味 (měiwèi) literally translates to “beautiful taste,” perfectly capturing the idea of a flavor that is not just good, but aesthetically pleasing and exceptionally delicious.

In Chinese culture, food is far more than just sustenance; it's a cornerstone of socializing, celebration, and even traditional medicine. The popular saying 民以食为天 (mín yǐ shí wéi tiān), meaning “the people consider food as heaven,” illustrates its central importance. 美味 (měiwèi) taps directly into this deep cultural appreciation for cuisine. It's not a word used lightly for a quick snack. Instead, it signifies respect for the ingredients, the preparation, and the skill of the cook. A good Western comparison is the difference between “tasty” and “gourmet.” You might call a slice of pizza “tasty,” but you would reserve “gourmet” for a meal that is more refined, complex, and artfully prepared. Similarly, you use the common 好吃 (hǎochī) for the pizza, but 美味 (měiwèi) for the special, well-crafted meal. Using 美味 shows you recognize and appreciate the effort and artistry behind the food.

• On Menus and in Advertising: Restaurants use 美味 to make their dishes sound more appealing and high-quality. You'll often see phrases like 美味佳肴 (měiwèi jiāyáo), meaning “delicious delicacies.”
• Giving Formal Compliments: When a host prepares an elaborate dinner for you, or when you're dining at a nice restaurant, telling the host or chef, “这菜很美味 (zhè cài hěn měiwèi)” is a high compliment that acknowledges their skill.
• In Written Language: 美味 is much more common in written Chinese—such as food blogs, articles, and literature—than in casual, everyday conversation. In speech, 好吃 (hǎochī) is used far more frequently.
• Connotation and Formality: The connotation is always positive. Its formality level is medium to high. While not strictly formal, it carries more weight and sophistication than its colloquial counterparts.

• Example 1:
  • 妈妈做的红烧肉真是美味。
  • Pinyin: Māma zuò de hóngshāoròu zhēnshi měiwèi.
  • English: The braised pork belly mom makes is truly delicious.
  • Analysis: This is a heartfelt compliment, elevating mom's cooking from just “tasty” to something special and cherished. Using 美味 here adds a layer of deep appreciation.
• Example 2:
  • 这家餐厅以其美味的海鲜而闻名。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng yǐ qí měiwèi de hǎixiān ér wénmíng.
  • English: This restaurant is famous for its delicious seafood.
  • Analysis: Here, 美味 is used in a more formal, descriptive context, typical of a review or guidebook. It suggests high-quality, gourmet seafood.
• Example 3:
  • 欢迎品尝我们的美味甜点。
  • Pinyin: Huānyíng pǐncháng wǒmen de měiwèi tiándiǎn.
  • English: Welcome to try our delicious desserts.
  • Analysis: This is classic advertising language you might see on a menu or sign. It makes the desserts sound refined and tempting.
• Example 4:
  • 他准备了许多美味佳肴来招待我们。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǔnbèi le xǔduō měiwèi jiāyáo lái zhāodài wǒmen.
  • English: He prepared many delicious delicacies to host us.
  • Analysis: The set phrase 美味佳肴 (měiwèi jiāyáo) is very common in writing and formal speech to describe a fantastic spread of food.
• Example 5:
  • 旅行的乐趣之一就是发现当地的美味。
  • Pinyin: Lǚxíng de lèqù zhī yī jiùshì fāxiàn dāngdì de měiwèi.
  • English: One of the joys of traveling is discovering local delicacies.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 美味 is used as a noun, meaning “delicacies” or “delicious foods.”
• Example 6:
  • 这种汤闻起来就很美味。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng tāng wén qǐlái jiù hěn měiwèi.
  • English: This soup smells delicious.
  • Analysis: Although taste (味) is in the word, 美味 can be used to describe an aroma that strongly implies a wonderful flavor.
• Example 7:
  • 我无法忘记那道菜的美味。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wúfǎ wàngjì nà dào cài de měiwèi.
  • English: I can't forget the deliciousness of that dish.
  • Analysis: Here, 美味 is again used as a noun, referring to the abstract quality of “deliciousness.”
• Example 8:
  • 感谢您的款待，晚餐非常美味！
  • Pinyin: Gǎnxiè nín de kuǎndài, wǎncān fēicháng měiwèi!
  • English: Thank you for your hospitality, the dinner was extremely delicious!
  • Analysis: This is a perfect, polite, and formal way to thank a host for a meal. It's more formal and appreciative than just saying 好吃 (hǎochī).
• Example 9:
  • 厨师的秘诀在于如何平衡各种香料，创造出美味。
  • Pinyin: Chúshī de mìjué zàiyú rúhé pínghéng gèzhǒng xiāngliào, chuàngzào chū měiwèi.
  • English: The chef's secret lies in how to balance various spices to create deliciousness.
  • Analysis: This sentence discusses 美味 as a concept—the result of culinary skill and artistry.
• Example 10:
  • 这不仅仅是食物，这是一件美味的艺术品。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bùjǐn jǐn shì shíwù, zhè shì yī jiàn měiwèi de yìshùpǐn.
  • English: This isn't just food; it's a delicious work of art.
  • Analysis: This usage highlights the “beautiful” (美) aspect of the word, linking the taste to aesthetics and art.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 美味 (měiwèi) and 好吃 (hǎochī).

• 好吃 (hǎochī): Literally “good to eat.” This is your go-to, everyday word for “tasty” or “delicious.” It's colloquial, versatile, and can be used for anything from a street-side snack to a home-cooked meal. It's used far more often in spoken Chinese.
• 美味 (měiwèi): More formal, literary, and implies a higher quality. Think “exquisite,” “gourmet,” or “a delicacy.” Using it for simple, everyday foods can sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic.

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: Pointing at a regular bag of potato chips and saying, “这个薯片很美味。” (Zhège shǔpiàn hěn měiwèi.)
• Why it's wrong: It's grammatically correct, but socially awkward. It's like describing a bag of Lay's chips as “an exquisite culinary delight.” It's overkill.
• Correct: “这个薯片很好吃。” (Zhège shǔpiàn hěn hǎochī.) This is natural and appropriate.

Rule of thumb: If you're talking, use 好吃 (hǎochī) 95% of the time. Save 美味 (měiwèi) for when you are writing, see it on a menu, or want to give a particularly formal and sincere compliment for a well-prepared meal.

• 好吃 (hǎochī) - The most common synonym for delicious; colloquial and used for any food.
• 好喝 (hǎohē) - The direct equivalent of 好吃 but specifically for drinks (“good to drink”).
• 可口 (kěkǒu) - Means palatable or tasty. It's a bit more formal than 好吃 but less so than 美味. Often used for light foods and drinks, like in the brand name 可口可乐 (Kěkǒu Kělè - Coca-Cola).
• 味道 (wèidào) - The general word for “flavor,” “taste,” or “smell.” Can be good or bad (e.g., “味道很好” - the flavor is good).
• 鲜美 (xiānměi) - Describes a fresh and savory flavor, often associated with “umami.” It's perfect for describing soups, mushrooms, and seafood.
• 风味 (fēngwèi) - Refers to a distinctive, characteristic flavor, often tied to a specific region (e.g., 四川风味 - Sichuan flavor/style).
• 佳肴 (jiāyáo) - A formal noun for “fine food” or “delicacies.” Often paired with 美味 to form the set phrase 美味佳肴.
• 香 (xiāng) - Fragrant or aromatic. Often used to describe food that smells wonderful, which implies it also tastes good (e.g., 这饭真香! - This food smells so good!).