いい匂いがする
ii nioi ga suru
The English phrase "you smell good" is translated into Japanese as いい匂いがする (ii nioi ga suru).
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that they have a pleasant scent. When using this phrase in Japanese, you do not need to include the word for "you" (anata). The subject is implied by the context of the conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "a good smell does/exists". The verb する (to do/make) is used here to indicate the presence of a sensation such as a smell or a sound.
Which one should you use?
The term いい匂い (ii nioi) is a general way to say "a good smell". If you wish to be more elegant or sophisticated when describing a pleasant scent or fragrance, you can use the term いい香り (ii kaori).
How do you pronounce it?
ii nioi ga suru
Did you know?
- Complimenting someone's scent is considered much more intimate in Japan than in English. Because of the high value placed on personal space, mentioning a scent implies you are standing deep within someone's private area.
- Japanese uses the same grammatical structure for smells, sounds, and tastes. The verb する is the universal way to express that a sensory quality is emanating from an object.
- Japanese has a specific distinction where 匂い can refer to any smell, but 香り is almost exclusively reserved for pleasant, aromatic scents.
Examples in context
- いい匂いがするね。Ii nioi ga suru ne.You smell good.
- この石鹸、いい匂いがする。Kono sekken, ii nioi ga suru.This soap smells good.
- 君はいつもいい匂いがする。Kimi wa itsumo ii nioi ga suru.You always smell good.
Example conversation
Yui compliments Yota on the scent of his laundry detergent.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くん、いい匂いがするね。Yota-kun, ii nioi ga suru ne.Yota, you smell good.
- 陽太 Yota本当？新しい洗剤に変えたんだ。Hontou? Atarashii senzai ni kaeta nda.Really? I changed to a new detergent.
- 結衣 Yuiすごく清潔な感じがする。Sugoku seiketsu na kanji ga suru.It feels very clean.
- 陽太 Yotaよかった、嬉しいよ。Yokatta, ureshii yo.I'm glad, that makes me happy.
