Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Delicious, tasty, appetizing: Describes food that has a pleasant flavor and stimulates the desire to eat.
   • Eating with enjoyment/appetite: Describes the state of eating food with pleasure and a good appetite.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Món canh chua này rất ngon miệng. (This sour soup is very delicious/appetizing.)
  • Nhờ không khí trong lành, bữa tối hôm nay tôi ăn rất ngon miệng. (Thanks to the fresh air, I ate my dinner tonight with great enjoyment/a very good appetite.)
  • Trẻ con thường ăn ngon miệng hơn khi được cùng bạn bè. (Children usually eat more heartily/enjoy their food more when they are with friends.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ăn ngon miệng": This is the most common collocation, meaning "to eat with appetite" or "to enjoy one's meal". It describes the act of eating, not the food itself.
  • Chúc mọi người ăn ngon miệng! (I wish everyone a good meal!/Enjoy your meal!)
• "Làm cho ngon miệng": To make (food) appetizing or to stimulate the appetite.
  • Một chút gia vị sẽ làm cho món ăn ngon miệng hơn. (A little seasoning will make the dish more appetizing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngon (adj): Good, delicious, tasty. A more general term for something tasting good.
  • Bánh mì này ngon quá! (This bread is so delicious!)
• Ngon lành (adj): Delicious, wholesome, tasty. Often implies something is both tasty and good for you.
  • Một bữa sáng ngon lành. (A wholesome/delicious breakfast.)

Synonyms

• Hợp khẩu vị: To one's taste, palatable.
• Đậm đà: Rich, savory, full of flavor (often for savory dishes).
• Kích thích vị giác: Appetite-stimulating.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• "Miệng ăn núi lở": (Idiom: "The mouth eats, the mountain collapses") This idiom is about the immense cost of eating, not directly about enjoying food. It is conceptually different from "ngon miệng," which focuses on the pleasure of eating.
• "Ăn ngon mặc đẹp": (Phrase: "To eat well and dress beautifully") Refers to a comfortable, prosperous life. "Ăn ngon" here is part of a larger idiom about living standards.

1. With great appetite, with good appetite