1.
having a raw, grassy smell
Smelling of fresh grass, raw vegetables, or uncooked greens.
このスムージーは青臭くて飲みにくい。
This smoothie has a grassy smell and is hard to drink.
草を刈ったあと、青臭い匂いがする。
After mowing the grass, there's a fresh grassy smell.
2.
immature, naive, inexperienced
Lacking experience or sophistication; having an unseasoned, idealistic quality typical of youth.
彼の考えはまだ青臭い。
His thinking is still immature.
青臭い理想論を語るのはやめてくれ。
Stop spouting naive idealism.
青臭い is a compound i-adjective combining 青 (green, raw) + 臭い (smelling of).
FORMS:
- Adverbial: 青臭く
- Noun form: 青臭さ
USAGE PATTERN:
The figurative meaning (sense 2) is often used critically by older people about younger people's idealistic views. It suggests the person hasn't yet developed the seasoned perspective that comes with experience.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 青臭い vs. 若い: 青臭い emphasizes immaturity in thinking or approach; 若い is neutral (just young)
- 青臭い vs. 世間知らず: Both imply inexperience, but 青臭い focuses on idealism while 世間知らず means unaware of how society works