Japanese word

嗅ぐ

Pronunciation

Romajikagu

Meaning

  • verbsmell

Example

この花を嗅ぎます。ko no hana o ka gi ma su

I smell this flower.

Illustration for 嗅ぐ (smell)

More examples

犬は玄関で靴を嗅いでいます。inu wa gen kan de kutsu o ka i de i ma su

The dog is sniffing the shoes at the entrance.

Core concept

Describes actively taking in an odor through the nose, whether to notice it or examine it.

Common phrases

  • くんくん嗅ぐku n ku n ka gu

    sniff repeatedly

Definition in Japanese

鼻で物のにおいを感じ取る。hana de mono no ni o i o kan ji to ru

Word origin

嗅ぐ (kagu) belongs to the native Japanese vocabulary rather than being a Sino-Japanese compound, and its older origin is not firmly known.

Usage tips

  • The related verb 嗅ぎつける (kagitsukeru) uses nose-based detection as a metaphor for discovering something hidden, such as a secret or a lead.

Other meanings

  • sniffverb

Related words

  • 嗅ぎ方kagikataway of smellingnoun

Word lists with this word