JLPT N1・N3 Vocabulary – Difference between “さっぱり” and “あっさり”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “さっぱり” and “あっさり”
2. さっぱり
3. あっさり
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Contents
8. Comment

Q: Do “さっぱり” and “あっさり” have the same meaning?

A: Broadly speaking, both words relate to “taste, personality, feelings, positive accomplishments, and negative failures.”

Is there anything as challenging as onomatopoeia for those studying Japanese?

Today, let’s delve into the onomatopoeic words “さっぱり” and “あっさり”. There are times when similar words can be used interchangeably and times when they cannot, leading Japanese speakers to express things subtly.

So how are these words differentiated in usage? Let’s take a look!

さっぱり (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
① Fresh and clean appearance; absence of discomfort
② Not oily; light
③ Completely; entirely.

[Rules]　
[V] さっぱり＋Verb Stem form／た form＋Noun
[Ｎ] さっぱりだ

[Examples]　
シャワーを浴あびてさっぱりしました。
I took a shower and felt refreshed.

暑あつい日ひは、さっぱりしたものが食たべたくなります。
On a hot day, I crave something refreshing.

ゆみさんはさっぱりした性格せいかくです。
Yumi has a straightforward personality.

[Commonly used with nouns]　味あじ(taste)・食べ物た　もの(food)・飲み物の　もの(drinks)・性格せいかく(personality)
[Commonly used with verbs]　分わからない (don’t understand)

あっさり (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
① The state of a person’s character or things being not complicated
② Something that is not intense or heavy
③ Something that is easy and does not take much time or effort

[Rules]　
[V] あっさり＋Verb Stem form／た form＋Noun
[Ｎ] あっさり＋Noun

[Examples]　　
このラーメンは塩味しおあじであっさりしています。
This salt-flavored ramen has a light flavor.

チャンピオンがあっさり負まけてしまいました。
The champion lost easily.

ゆみさんはあっさりした性格せいかくです。
Yumi has an easygoing personality.

[Commonly used with nouns]　味あじ(taste)・食べ物た　もの(food)・飲み物の　もの(drinks)・性格せいかく(personality)
[Commonly used with verbs]　できる(can do)・終おわる(to be finished)・決きまる(to be decided)

Let’s Compare

[When used to describe the taste of food and drinks]

While it may not seem that there is a significant difference when replacing two words related to taste, a closer look reveals subtle differences depending on the seasonings and ingredients used.

[さっぱり]　
This term describes a taste that is not strong and has a refreshing flavor.
It is often used by Japanese people to describe dishes or drinks that contain acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon, describing them as having a ‘refreshing taste.’

[Example]　　
これに酢すを少すこしかけたら、さっぱりしますよ。
It will taste refreshing if you sprinkle a little vinegar on it.

[あっさり]　
This term describes a taste that is not strong and is made with restrained use of oil and seasonings.
For example, it is used to describe the flavor of dishes like light stews or soups that use soy sauce or broth but are not heavily seasoned.

[Example]　
和食わしょくは、あっさりしたものが多おおいです。
Japanese cuisine often features light dishes.

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[When used to describe a person’s personality]

When describing personality, it is important to consider certain contexts or assumptions, focusing on events and the actions of the person in question.

Let’s start by examining the term “さっぱり.”

[Example]　　
Ａ「え、もう彼氏かれしと別わかれたの！？」
Ｂ「うん、いっしょにいてもおもしろくなかったから」
Ａ「さっぱりした性格せいかくだねぇ。」
A: “What, you already broke up with your boyfriend!?”
B: “Yeah, it just wasn’t interesting being together.”
A: “You really have a straightforward personality, huh?”

In this context, “さっぱり” takes on a meaning similar to a woman being “indifferent or cold” towards someone.

Next, what about “あっさり”?

[Example]　
Ａ「え、もう彼氏かれしと別わかれたの！？」
Ｂ「うん、別わかれようって言いわれたから。」
Ａ「それで「うん」って言いったの？」
Ｂ「うん」
Ａ「あっさりした性格せいかくだね。」
A: “What, you already broke up with your boyfriend!?”
B: “Yeah, because he said we should break up.”
A: “And you just said ‘okay’?”
B: “Yeah.”
A: “You have a very straightforward personality, don’t you?”

In this context, “あっさり” refers to “making judgments quickly without much deep thought.”

Thus, “さっぱり” points to someone’s psychological aspects, while “あっさり” refers to the cognitive aspects.

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[The positive “さっぱり” and “あっさり”]

[さっぱり＋ Positive Action]
This expression describes how the speaker feels after doing something.
Therefore, before expressing the feeling of being “さっぱり,” it requires some kind of action to have taken place. In such cases, “さっぱり” conveys a sense similar to “free from unpleasant/negative feelings.“

[Examples]　
汗あせをかいて気持きもち悪わるかったけど、お風呂ふろに入はいってさっぱりしました。
I felt gross after sweating, but I felt refreshed after taking a bath.
⇒ It expresses that the speaker feels no discomfort after taking a bath.

言いいたいことが言いえて気持きもちがさっぱりしました。
I felt relieved after I was able to say what I wanted to say.
⇒ It shows that the speaker has said what they wanted to say and now feels no unpleasant feelings.

[あっさり＋ Positive Action]
It describes how someone acted when doing something.
Similar to the use of “あっさり” in [personality], it conveys the meaning of “doing something without much deep thought.”
Additionally, it can also mean “doing something without any hesitation at all.”

[Examples]　
何なん回かいも勧誘かんゆうされたけど、あっさり断ことわりました。
I was invited many times, but I declined straightforwardly.
⇒ It indicates that the speaker declined despite being repeatedly invited, doing so without any hesitation.

みんな社長しゃちょうには何なにも言いえないのに、山本やまもとさんはみんなが言いいたいことをあっさりと言いいました。
While everyone else couldn’t say anything to the president, Yamamoto-san straightforwardly said what everyone wanted to say.
⇒ While everyone else was too reserved or felt unable to speak up because he is the president, it describes how Mr. Yamamoto acted without much thought.

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[Idiomatic “さっぱり” and “あっさり”]

[さっぱり (Negative)]
When “さっぱり” is used with a negative verb, it is often used almost idiomatically, so it is helpful to remember the commonly used verbs together.
In this case, “さっぱり” has a similar meaning to “not at all.”

[Examples]　
さっぱりわかりません。
I don’t understand at all.
⇒ Same meaning as “I don’t understand at all.”

テストはさっぱりできなくて０点てんでした。
I couldn’t do the test at all and got zero points.
⇒ Same meaning as “I couldn’t do the test at all.”

[あっさり (Positive)]
This is also often used like an idiom, similar to “さっぱり,” so it’s useful to learn the commonly used verbs together.
In this case, “あっさり” conveys a meaning similar to “easily do something.”

[Examples]　
難むずかしそうな問題もんだいだったけど、あっさりできました。
It looked like a difficult problem, but I solved it easily.
⇒ It means ”I easily did it.”

つぎのプロジェクトはあっさり決きまりました。
The next project was decided easily.
⇒ It means ”It was easily decided.”

彼女かのじょとの関係かんけいはあっさりと終おわってしまいました。
My relationship with her ended easily.
⇒ It means ”It ended easily.”

Summary

さっぱり

• Taste: Describes a flavor that does not use oil but includes the use of vinegar or citrus fruits like lemon.
• Personality: Refers to the psychological aspect, similar in meaning to “indifferent or cold.”
• Action: Indicates that as a result of doing something, the speaker feels no discomfort.
• Idiomatic: Used with a negative verb, it conveys a meaning similar to “not at all.”

あっさり

• Taste: Describes a flavor that is not rich, using soy sauce or broth instead of a lot of oil or seasonings.
• Personality: Refers to the cognitive aspect, meaning “making decisions without much thought.”
• Behavior: Shows how someone “does something easily/without much thought.”
• Idiomatic: Used with a positive verb, it conveys a meaning similar to “easily does it.”

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.