B1 Expression ニュートラル

det er en smaksak

it is a matter of taste

意味

Personal preference determines the choice.

🌍

文化的背景

In Norway, 'smaksak' is often used to avoid 'overkjøring' (overriding) someone else's opinion, which is socially frowned upon. The phrase aligns with the Nordic value of consensus-seeking. It's a way to 'agree to disagree' without losing face. In Norwegian flat-hierarchy workplaces, managers use this to show they value employee input on subjective matters. Used frequently when discussing traditional foods like 'smalahove' or 'rakfisk', which are polarizing.

🎯

The 'Jo' trick

Add 'jo' to make it sound more natural: 'Det er jo en smaksak.' This adds a sense of 'as we all know' or 'after all'.

⚠️

Don't split it

Never write 'smak sak'. In Norwegian, if it's one concept, it's one word.

意味

Personal preference determines the choice.

🎯

The 'Jo' trick

Add 'jo' to make it sound more natural: 'Det er jo en smaksak.' This adds a sense of 'as we all know' or 'after all'.

⚠️

Don't split it

Never write 'smak sak'. In Norwegian, if it's one concept, it's one word.

💬

Polite disagreement

Use this phrase when you want to disagree with a Norwegian without being confrontational.

自分をテスト

Which sentence correctly uses the phrase?

A: Det er en smaksak at 2+2=4. B: Det er en smaksak om du liker rød eller hvit vin.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: B

Math is a fact, while wine preference is subjective.

Fill in the missing word.

Hvilken sofa vi skal kjøpe er egentlig bare en ______.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: smaksak

The standard compound noun is 'smaksak'.

Match the response to the statement.

Statement: 'Jeg synes denne sangen er altfor bråkete!'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Det er en smaksak.

Music preference is subjective.

Complete the dialogue.

Kari: 'Skal vi male huset gult?' Per: 'Jeg foretrekker hvitt, men...'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: ...det er en smaksak.

Per acknowledges that the choice is subjective.

🎉 スコア: /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

When to use 'Smaksak'

🍕

Food

  • Salt level
  • Spiciness
  • Toppings
🎨

Design

  • Colors
  • Furniture
  • Art
🏔️

Lifestyle

  • Hobby choice
  • Music
  • Movies

練習問題バンク

4 問題
Which sentence correctly uses the phrase? Choose A2

A: Det er en smaksak at 2+2=4. B: Det er en smaksak om du liker rød eller hvit vin.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: B

Math is a fact, while wine preference is subjective.

Fill in the missing word. Fill Blank B1

Hvilken sofa vi skal kjøpe er egentlig bare en ______.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: smaksak

The standard compound noun is 'smaksak'.

Match the response to the statement. situation_matching B1

Statement: 'Jeg synes denne sangen er altfor bråkete!'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Det er en smaksak.

Music preference is subjective.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

Kari: 'Skal vi male huset gult?' Per: 'Jeg foretrekker hvitt, men...'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: ...det er en smaksak.

Per acknowledges that the choice is subjective.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

10 問

Both are correct. 'Smaksak' is more common, but 'smakssak' with a linking 's' is also accepted by the Language Council.

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal writing to describe subjective preferences.

No, it applies to anything subjective: art, music, fashion, lifestyle, and even business strategies.

'Smaksak' is a noun phrase, while 'smak og behag' is a more fixed idiom. They are interchangeable in meaning.

No, we usually say 'Det er en smaksak' or 'Det er min smak'. 'Min smaksak' sounds unnatural.

No, it's actually quite polite. it acknowledges that the other person's opinion is valid.

You could say: 'Dette er et spørsmål om individuelle preferanser.'

Yes, if you are talking about which policy 'feels' better, but be careful as politics often involves facts too.

Technically 'smaksaker', but it is almost never used in the plural.

The most direct equivalent is 'It's a matter of taste'.

関連フレーズ

🔄

smak og behag

synonym

Taste and pleasure

🔗

hver sin lyst

similar

To each their own desire

🔗

et definisjonsspørsmål

builds on

A question of definition

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objektiv sannhet

contrast

Objective truth

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