ほろ苦い ほろにがい Also written ホロにがい, ホロ苦い Meanings い-adjective slightly bitter (taste) bittersweet (memory, experience, etc.) Kanji 苦 bitter. Read as にがい. Example sentences トムは、ほろ苦いコーヒーとチョコレートを好みます。Tom prefers coffee and chocolate with a slightly bitter taste. トムは、初恋を「ほろ苦い思い出」と言います。Tom says his first love is a "bitter memory". Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists