| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| 灰汁 | あく | 〔木炭を漉こしたアルカリ液〕lye；〔野菜の〕a sharp [an acrid, a bitter] taste; an alkaline flavor；〔肉などの〕scum |
| I〔木炭を漉こしたアルカリ液〕lye；〔野菜の〕a sharp [an acrid, a bitter] taste; an alkaline flavor；〔肉などの〕scum 肉汁のあくをすくう skim the broth II〔性質のしつこさ〕 彼はあくが強い He is too tenacious [self-assertive/《口》 pushy].（▼tenaciousは執ような，self-assertiveは自己主張が強い）／《口》 He comes on too strong. 彼女の文章はあくが強い Her writing is 「highly idiosyncratic [very eccentric]. あくが抜ける become refined 竹の子をゆでて灰汁抜きする boil bamboo shoots to remove the bitter [harsh] taste |