1.
sense of smell; olfaction
The ability to perceive odors through the nose. One of the five senses.
嗅覚 refers to the sense of smell.
The five senses (五感):
Common expressions
- 嗅覚が鋭い (to have a keen sense of smell)
- 嗅覚が鈍い (to have a dull sense of smell)
- 嗅覚障害 (olfactory dysfunction)
- 嗅覚を失う (to lose one's sense of smell)
Note
Loss of 嗅覚 was recognized as a COVID-19 symptom and brought attention to this often-overlooked sense. The Japanese word for smell as a noun is 匂い/臭い, while 嗅覚 refers specifically to the sensory ability.