1.
to smell, to sniff
To perceive odor through the nose.
花の匂いを嗅ぐ。
To smell the flowers.
犬が地面を嗅いでいる。
The dog is sniffing the ground.
くんくん嗅ぐ。
To sniff around.
この牛乳、ちょっと嗅いでみて。
Smell this milk for me, would you?
赤ちゃんの頭の匂いを嗅ぐのが好きだという親は多い。
Many parents say they like to smell their baby's head.
嗅ぐ means to smell or sniff—the active verb for perceiving odors.
TRANSITIVITY:
嗅ぐ is transitive—you smell something:
- 匂いを嗅ぐ: to smell a scent
- 香りを嗅ぐ: to smell a fragrance
CONTRAST:
- 嗅ぐ: to smell (active, intentional)
- 匂う: to smell, give off odor (intransitive)
- 匂いがする: there is a smell
ONOMATOPOEIA:
- くんくん嗅ぐ: to sniff around (like an animal)
KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 嗅 combines the mouth and smell radicals.