臭う
niou
In Japanese, the verb for 'stink' is 臭う (niou).
The verb 臭う is used to describe a physical, unpleasant odor such as rot or sweat. Beyond physical smells, it can also be used figuratively to mean 'to sense something suspicious' or 'to smell a rat'. While 臭う is a verb, the related term 臭い is a common and neutral way to express that something stinks or is smelly. Additionally, the noun 悪臭 refers to a strong bad smell.
Meaning: have a strong bad smell (verb)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between different characters that are pronounced the same way: 臭う refers specifically to a bad smell, whereas the verb 匂う is used for pleasant or neutral scents. For nouns, 悪臭 is a formal term specifically used to describe strong and unpleasant odors like garbage or chemicals.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 臭う is an intransitive verb, which means it describes a state or an action of the subject itself rather than an action performed on an object.
How do you pronounce it?
niou
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the concept of 'stinking' can be linked to a person's social status or behavior through the phrase 臭い 'kusai', which is sometimes used to describe something 'cheesy' or overly sentimental.
- The distinction between 臭う and 匂う is so critical that in some formal writing, authors will use the hiragana におう to remain ambiguous about whether the smell is good or bad.
- The formal term 悪臭 is frequently seen on public warning signs near industrial zones or sewage plants. While 臭う is spoken, 悪臭 is the standard terminology for official government odors.
Examples in context
- 彼の部屋は臭いです。His room stinks.
- その工場からの悪臭が漂っています。An awful stench is drifting from the factory.
- この魚がクサイよ。This fish stinks.
- あのゴミ箱が臭い。That garbage bin stinks.
- 生ゴミが臭う。namagomi ga niou.The food waste stinks.
- この靴下、すごく臭うね。kono kutsushita, sugoku niou ne.These socks stink really bad.
- 古い部屋が少し臭う。furui heya ga sukoshi niou.The old room stinks a little.
Example conversation
A kitchen where a boy and girl are cleaning up.
- 大翔 Hirotoこのゴミ箱、変な臭いがするよ。kono gomibako, hen na nioi ga suru yo.This trash can has a strange smell.
- 結衣 Yui本当だ。生ゴミが臭うね。honto da. namagomi ga niou ne.You're right. The food waste stinks.
- 大翔 Hiroto早く捨ててこよう。hayaku sutete koyou.Let's go throw it away quickly.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、お願いね。hiroto-kun, onegai ne.Hiroto, please do it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 臭う, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
