におい vs. かおり：Don’t Think These As The Same Meaning

2021年7月4日2022年8月21日

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匂におい vs. 香かおり：Don’t Think These As The Same Meaning

What is the difference between “匂におい(nioi) and 香かおり(kaori)”? Which is only used as the meaning of “good smell”? After reading this, you would be answering this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!

匂におい (nioi)

Smell / 气味 / 냄새 / mùi

“匂におい(nioi)” means “Smell” and which has been used as the meaning of “the characteristic of something that can be recognized or noticed using the nose”. The basic ways to use it are that “___は良いい/変へんな匂においがする。(___ smell good/bad.)”, “___の匂におい(a scent of ___)”, etc. For instance, “これは良いい匂においがする。(This smells good.)” and “これは変へんな匂においがする。(This smells bad.), “にんにくの匂におい(the smell of garlic )”, etc. The tips for using it are that “匂におい” is used as “ALL OF THE SMELLS WHICH ARE GOOD AND BAD.”, unlike “香かおり”. Everyone could use “匂におい” as casual, polite and formal such as “良いい匂においがするね。(It smells good.)” and “変へんな匂においがするね。(It smells bad.)” as casual and “良いい匂においがします。(It smells good.)” and “変へんな匂においがします。(It smells bad.)” as polite and formal.

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Sample

yuka

シャンプー何使なにつかってるの？いい匂においだね！ (What shampoo do you use? It smells nice!) (洗发水你用的是什么？闻起来很香！) (샴푸 뭐 써? 좋은 냄새 나!) (Bạn đang dùng dầu gội đầu gì vậy? Mùi thơm nhỉ!) (shanpū nani tsukatteru no? ī nioi dane!)

tatsuya

いい匂においですね。 (It smells good.) (好香的气味。) (좋은 냄새네요.) (Mùi thơm thật nhỉ.) (ī nioi desu ne.)

yuka

何なにこの匂におい？ (What’s that smell?) (这是什么味道？) (이거 무슨 냄새야?) (Mùi này là mùi gì?) (nani kono nioi?)

tatsuya

なんか変へんな匂においがするね。なんの匂においだろ？ (Something smells funny. I wonder what it is.) (有一种奇怪的味道。是什么的味道啊？) (뭔가 이상한 냄새가 나. 무슨 냄새지?) (Có mùi gì lạ nhỉ. Mùi của cái gì vậy ta?) (nanka hen’na nioi ga suru ne. nan no nioi daro?)

香かおり (kaori)

Fragrance, Aroma, Smell / 香味 / 향기 / hương, mùi thơm

“香かおり(kaori)” means “Smell” and which has been used as the meaning of “a sweet or pleasant smell”. The basic ways to use it are that “___は良いい香かおりがする。(___ smell good.)”, “___の香かおり(a scent of ___)”, etc. For instance, “これは良いい香かおりがする。(This smells good.)”, “化粧水けしょうすいの香かおり(cosmetics’ fragrance)”, “フルーツの香かおり(a fruity scent)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “香かおり” is ONLY used as the meaning of “GOOD and ELEGANT”, unlike “匂におい”. Although you would be able to say “これは良いい香かおりがする。(This smells good.)” and “これは良いい匂においがする。(This smells good.)”, “これは良いい香かおりがする。(This smells good.)” sounds “ELEGANT SMELL” than “これは良いい匂においがする。(This smells good.)”. Everyone could use “香かおり” as casual, polite and formal such as “良いい香かおりがするね。(It smells good.)” as casual and “良いい香かおりがします。(It smells good.)” as polite and formal.

Sample

yuka

シャンプー何使なにつかってるの？いい香かおりだね！ (What shampoo do you use? It smells elegant!) (你用的是哪个洗发水啊？闻起来好香！) (샴푸 뭐 써? 좋은 향기 나!) (Bạn đang dùng dầu gội đầu gì vậy? Hương thơm thật đấy!) (shanpū nani tsukatteru no? ī kaori dane!)

tatsuya

いい香かおりですね。 (It smells elegant.) (好香。) (좋은 향기네요.) (Hương thơm nhỉ.) (ī kaori desu ne.)

yuka

何なにこの香かおり？ (What’s that smell?) (这是什么香味？) (이거 무슨 향기야?) (Mùi hương này là mùi gì vậy?) (nani kono kaori?)

tatsuya

フルーツの香かおりが付ついた石鹸せっけんはありますか？ (Do you have any fruit scented soaps?) (有水果味的肥皂吗？) (과일 향기 나는 비누는 있나요?) (Có loại xà phòng có mùi trái cây không ạ?) (furūtsu no kaori ga tsuita sekken wa arimasu ka?)

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