Translation guide
The English word 'scent' refers to a smell, often pleasant or distinctive. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 匂い (nioi), but other words like 香り (kaori) and 臭い (nioi) are used depending on whether the smell is pleasant or unpleasant. This guide helps learners choose the right word and use natural expressions.
To describe a pleasant or sweet smell, such as that of flowers, perfume, or food.
Refers specifically to a pleasant, often delicate or elegant fragrance. Commonly used for flowers, tea, perfume, and food.
この花の香りが好きです。
I like the scent of this flower.
紅茶の香りが部屋に広がった。
The scent of black tea filled the room.
A general term for smell, neutral or slightly positive. Can be used for pleasant scents but is less specific than 香り. Often used in everyday conversation.
いい匂いがする。
There's a nice scent.
パンの焼ける匂いがする。
I smell the scent of baking bread.
A formal or literary term for a sweet, pleasant fragrance. Often used in written descriptions or product names.
庭に花の芳香が漂っている。
The sweet scent of flowers is drifting in the garden.
To describe a bad or strong smell, such as body odor, garbage, or chemicals.
When written with the kanji 臭い, it specifically means a bad smell, stench, or odor. In speech, context determines whether におい is neutral or negative.
生ゴミの臭いがする。
There's a scent of garbage.
靴下の臭いがひどい。
The scent of the socks is terrible.
A formal term for a foul odor or stench. Used in news, complaints, or technical contexts.
To refer to a smell that is recognizable or associated with a particular thing, person, or place, without strong positive or negative connotation.
The most versatile word for any kind of smell, including distinctive scents. Can be neutral or slightly positive depending on context.
この部屋は古い本の匂いがする。
This room has the scent of old books.
彼の服からタバコの匂いがした。
His clothes had the scent of cigarettes.
Can be used for distinctive but pleasant scents, such as the smell of a particular person or place, if perceived positively.
To describe a smell that is barely noticeable or delicate.
Means 'faint scent'. Can be used for both pleasant and neutral smells.
微かな花の匂いが風に乗ってきた。
A faint scent of flowers came on the wind.
Means 'faint fragrance', emphasizing a delicate pleasant smell. Often used in poetic or descriptive language.
ほのかな梅の香りが漂う。
A faint scent of plum blossoms drifts.
To refer to the smell left by an animal, used for tracking or detection.
Used for animal scent in general. Often combined with verbs like 嗅ぐ (kagu, to sniff) or 追う (ou, to track).
犬が犯人の匂いを追った。
The dog tracked the scent of the criminal.
A technical term for 'scent trail' used in hunting or police work.
警察犬が臭跡をたどった。
The police dog followed the scent trail.
To refer to a manufactured scent product like perfume or cologne.
The standard word for perfume or cologne. Not used for natural scents.
彼女は新しい香水をつけている。
She is wearing a new scent.
匂い (におい) is the general word for smell, neutral or slightly positive. 香り (かおり) is specifically a pleasant fragrance. 臭い (におい) when written with this kanji means a bad smell. In speech, におい can be ambiguous, so context or adjectives like いい (good) or 悪い (bad) clarify the meaning.
いい匂い vs 悪い匂い
good scent vs bad scent
English 'scent' is often neutral, but 香り is exclusively positive. Using 香り for a bad smell sounds unnatural. Use 匂い or 臭い for neutral or negative smells.
工場から悪臭が発生した。
A foul scent was emitted from the factory.
Her hair had a nice scent.
Loanword from English, used in marketing or fashion contexts for fragrance products.
このフレグランスは人気がある。
This scent is popular.