匂い・臭い|においnioi[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounsmell; scent; odour; odor; stench臭い used for unpleasant smells
   あの花はなはにおいが強つよいな。↗

   That flower has a powerful smell.
2. nounaura; whiff; smack; flavour; flavor; mood
3. nounfaint, mist-like pattern along the temper line of a Japanese sword

• Synonym香りかおりNeutralSpecifically a pleasant smell, as in 「花の香り」; unlike the neutral 「匂い」, it cannot refer to bad odors.
• Synonym芳香ほうこうWrittenWritten word for a pleasant fragrance, as in 「芳香を放つ」 and 「芳香剤」.
• Synonym香気こうきWrittenWritten word for a fine fragrance, as in 「香気を放つ」; more elegant and literary than 「香り」.
• Synonym薫香くんこうWrittenWritten word for a lovely fragrance; also means incense and the scent it gives off.
• Synonym馨香けいこうFormalFormal written word for a fragrance that carries far; also used figuratively for a good name or fame. Very rare.
• SynonymアロマCasualColloquial loanword for a pleasant aroma, as in 「コーヒーのアロマ」; also means aromatherapy, as in 「アロマオイル」.
• Related臭いくさいCasualAn adjective for a bad smell, as in 「臭い靴下」; it can also mean suspicious. As the noun 「臭い（におい）」, it means an unpleasant odor.
• Related異臭いしゅうWrittenWritten word for a strange, offensive smell, as in 「異臭騒ぎ」; mostly seen in news reports.

「匂い」 is the default for smells, good or bad. Pick 「香り」 for pleasant scents, 「臭い」 for bad ones, 「異臭」 for strange odors in the news. 「芳香」 and 「香気」 are written words for fragrance; 「アロマ」 covers aroma and aromatherapy; 「薫香」 and 「馨香」 are literary words.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. いろつや。
2. かおり。くさみ。
3. 徴候ちょうこう。
4. 余韻よいん。