臭
臭·smell, stink
- On-yomi
- シュウ
- Kun-yomi
- くさ(い)にお(う)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 臭い | くさい | stinking, smelly |
| 悪臭 | あくしゅう | a stench |
| 体臭 | たいしゅう | body odour |
| 臭う | におう | to smell (bad) |
Example sentences
この魚はもう臭い。
このさかなはもうくさい。
This fish already smells off.
工場のそばには悪臭が漂っていた。
こうじょうのそばにはあくしゅうがただよっていた。
A stench hung in the air near the factory.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 臭い is always a bad smell; a pleasant one is 匂い or 香り
- Reading 体臭 as たいしゅ — it is たいしゅう
Memory aid
Picture it
自 was originally a drawing of a nose; put it over 大 and you get a big nose picking up a smell.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 臭 mean?