냄새나는
naemsae-naneun
In Korean, 'smelly' is expressed as 냄새나는 (naemsae-naneun). Wiktionary also lists 지독한 (jidok-han).
Meaning: having a bad smell (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 냄새나는 | naemsae-naneun |
| 지독한 | jidok-han |
The word 냄새나는 is used to describe something that has a bad smell. If you want to refer specifically to a 'stink' or a 'foul odor', you can use the noun 구린내.
What does it mean word for word?
냄새나는 is composed of 냄새, meaning 'smell' and 나는, which comes from the verb 나다, meaning 'to occur' or 'to emit'.
Which one should you use?
While 냄새나는 is a neutral way to say 'smelly', 지독한 is used to emphasize that a smell is extremely strong, foul or unbearable, often translated as 'terrible' or 'extreme'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural conversation, rather than using the adjective 냄새나는, Koreans often use the verb phrase 냄새가 나요 (literally 'smell occurs') to say 'it smells'.
How do you pronounce it?
naemsae-naneun
Did you know?
- The word 구리다 used in 구린내 can also mean 'to be suspicious' or 'fishy' when describing a person's behavior or a situation.
- When describing a smell that is surprisingly pungent or sharp, Koreans might use the expression 코를 찌르는, which literally translates to 'piercing the nose'.
- The intensity of 지독한 is so high that it can also be used to describe a person with a 'terrible' or 'extreme' personality, not just a smell.
Examples in context
- 오늘은 냄새가 나요.There is a bad smell today.
- 저 음식 진짜 안 맛있어, 악취가 나.That food is really not delicious, it has a bad smell.
- 이 운동화 냄새나.These sneakers smell bad.
- 냄새나는 음식을 못 먹어요.naemsenaeneun eumsigeul mot meogeoyo.I cannot eat smelly food.
- 냄새나는 쓰레기를 빨리 버려주세요.naemsenaeneun sseuregireul ppalli beoryeojuseyo.Please throw away the smelly trash quickly.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are cleaning the house together.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 저기 냄새나는 봉투가 있어요.Minji ssi, jeogi naemsenaeneun bongtuga isseoyo.Minji, there is a smelly bag over there.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨, 제가 바로 치울게요.Hyunwoo ssi, jega baro chiulgeyo.Hyunwoo, I will clean it up right away.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 지독한 냄새가 나네요.jeongmal jidokhan naemsaega naneyo.It really has a terrible smell.
- 민지 Min-ji창문을 열어서 환기시켜야겠어요.changmuneul yeoreoseo hwangisikyeoyagesseoyo.We should open the window to ventilate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smelly” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
