Japanese word

臭い

Pronunciation

Romajikusai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivesmelly

Example

この靴下は臭いです。ko no kutsu shita wa kusa i de su

This sock is smelly.

Illustration for 臭い (smelly)

More examples

冷蔵庫を開けると、中が臭いです。rei zō ko o a ke ru to naka ga kusa i de su

When I open the refrigerator, it smells bad inside.

Core concept

Marks a person, object, or place as having an unpleasant smell.

Common phrases

  • 足が臭いashi ga kusa i

    feet smell bad

  • 靴が臭いkutsu ga kusa i

    shoes smell bad

  • 息が臭いiki ga kusa i

    breath smells bad

Similar words

生臭いnamagusai: Describes something with an unpleasant smell like raw fish or blood.
汗臭いasekusai: Describes a person or clothing with an unpleasant smell of sweat.

Definition in Japanese

いやなにおいを発するさま。i ya na ni o i o has su ru sa ma

Word origin

The Japanese adjective 臭い (kusai, "smelly") developed from the older native form 臭し (kusashi, "smelly").

Usage tips

  • The directness of 臭い (kusai, "smelly") makes an indirect description more suitable in polite conversation about another person.

Other meanings

  • stinkyi-adjective

Opposites

  • 無臭mushūodorlessna-adjective

Related words

  • 臭みkusamibad smellnoun
  • 臭がるkusagarufind a smell unpleasantverb
  • 臭さkusasasmellinessnoun

Word lists with this word