49007
What is the meaning of 味を増した in the following sentence? Context: Two boxers
meet after a long time, but Boxer A isn't in a good mood because is worried
about his imminent qualifying match. So Boxer B has the following thoughts (I
divided the sentence as it is in the manga):

> せっかくの再会なのに残念 / そんなに思い詰める程ヤバイ相手なんだ… / より **味を増した** キミでも？

My rough translation of it would be `What a shame, now that we met again. Did
he get an opponent even stronger than him?`, but I don't understand the exact
meaning of 味を増した. I am also not sure about より being a comparative there, it is
strangely placed in the sentence and there's a little space after it. Thank
you for your help!
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-03T19:48:36.030
48994
2017-07-04T13:24:44.927
17797
question
meaning expressions manga comparative-constructions
Meaning of 味を増した
Fermented food like _natto_ , _miso_ and _cheese_ will gain stronger taste and
smell over time. 味が増す (literally "taste increases") figuratively refers to
this phenomenon. It means to grow old but experienced and mature as a veteran.
より is simply "more" here (see: [Use of より in this
sentence](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/48962/5010)). For example
年齢を重ねてより味が増した俳優 refers to a good-looking middle-aged actor.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-04T00:38:09.330
49007
2017-07-04T00:38:09.330
5010
48994
answer
> ..ヤバイ相手なんだ… / より 味を増したキミでも？
>
> it is strangely placed in the sentence and there's a little space after it.

I think almost all naruto's answer is correct except for the interpretation of
the space.  
I think the space is inevitable to be read smoothly as the intended meaning.

I'll show you the reason.

"より _more_ " is natural to be used when comparing A and B. For example A is
"前/以前のキミ" and B is "今のキミ".

Though the given phrase seems almost meaningful, some words are omitted. If
you write it as a complete phrase it would become like:

>   1. / **以前** より味を増した **今の** キミでも？
>

In this case, no space is needed after "より".

If you omit 今 from sentence 1, you will get sentence 2, which is almost the
same meaning as sentence 1.

>   2. / **以前** より味を増したキミでも？
>

No space is required also in this phrase.

Let's examine the given phrase. If you omit the space from it, it will become
as:

>   3. / より味を増したキミでも？
>

Readers might get confused in reading this phrase.  
"yorimiを"? "yoriajiを"? What does "より味" mean?

So, the space is inevitable in this abbreviated phrase.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-04T13:24:44.927
49022
2017-07-04T13:24:44.927
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer