Japanese word

生臭い

Pronunciation

Romajinamagusai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivefishy

Example

この魚は生臭いです。ko no sakana wa nama gusa i de su

This fish has a fishy smell.

Illustration for 生臭い (fishy)

More examples

魚をよく洗ってから焼くと、生臭くありません。sakana o yo ku ara tte ka ra ya ku to nama gusa ku a ri ma se n

If you wash the fish well before grilling it, it does not smell fishy.

Core concept

Describes an unpleasant smell associated with raw fish, meat, or blood.

Common phrases

  • 生臭い魚nama gusa i sakana

    fish with a fishy smell

  • 生臭い肉nama gusa i niku

    meat that smells of blood

Similar words

くさいkusai: Describes an unpleasant smell from many possible sources, including food.

Definition in Japanese

魚や肉、血など生のものに特有の嫌なにおいがする。sakana ya niku chi na do nama no mo no ni toku yū no iya na ni o i ga su ru

Word origin

生 (nama, "raw") + 臭い (kusai, "smelly") forms 生臭い (namagusai), with the k sound changing to g in the compound.

Usage tips

  • In English, fishy can also mean suspicious, but 生臭い (namagusai) refers to an unpleasant smell rather than suspicion.

Other meanings

  • smelling of bloodi-adjective

Opposites

  • 無臭mushūodorlessna-adjective

Related words

  • 生臭さnamagusasafishinessnoun
  • 生臭みnamagusamifishy smellnoun

Word lists with this word