香水
kōsui[ko̞ːsɨi]
The English phrase 'perfume' is translated to Japanese as 香水 (kōsui).
香水 is the standard term for perfume, which is a substance providing a pleasant smell. When you want to say you are wearing perfume, you use the verb つける (to attach or apply) rather than a verb for wearing clothing.
Meaning: substance providing a pleasant smell (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 香水 is composed of the characters for 'fragrance' (香) and 'water' (水).
Which one should you use?
While 香水 refers specifically to manufactured perfume, the word kaori (香り) is used for a general pleasant scent or aroma.
How do you pronounce it?
kōsui
Did you know?
- While 香水 refers to modern bottled perfumes, Japan has a centuries-old tradition of kōdō, the way of incense, which treats the act of smelling scents as a formal art form.
- If a scent is too strong, Japanese speakers often describe it as 'heavy' (omoi) rather than just 'strong'.
- The character for fragrance 香 is also used in the word for incense お香, showing that the concept of 'perfume' in Japanese is historically rooted in burning aromatics rather than liquid extracts.
Examples in context
- 香水つけてる？Are you wearing perfume?This example is useful for asking if someone is wearing 香水.Tatoeba #8718361 by bunbuku, translation #2645548 by CK
- それ、新しい香水？Is that a new perfume?This example is useful for asking if a perfume is new.Tatoeba #8730582 by bunbuku, translation #3264692 by CK
- 香水が強すぎるよ。Your perfume is too strong.This example is useful for noting that the scent of the 香水 is too strong.Tatoeba #10187744 by small_snow, translation #10201832 by terrywallwork
- Watashi wa kōsui ga suki desu. (私は香水が好きです。)I like perfume
- Kōsui o kaimashita ka? (香水を買いましたか？)Did you buy perfume?
- Anata no kōsui no nioi ga suki desu. (あなたの香水の匂いが好きです。)I like the smell of your perfume
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are shopping for gifts at a mall.
- 美咲 Misakiこの香水、いい匂いがしますね。Kono kousui, ii nioi ga shimasu ne.This perfume smells really nice, doesn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ。プレゼントにぴったりだよ。Hontou da. Purezento ni pittari dayo.You're right. It's perfect for a gift.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くんは香水を使いますか？Hiroto-kun wa kousui o tsukaimasu ka?Do you use perfume, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hirotoいや、僕はあまり使わないな。Iya, boku wa amari tsukawanai na.No, I don't really use it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “perfume” translations and entries 香水, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
