(なまぐさ)

なまぐさい
i-adjective
fishy, raw-smelling
1. having a fishy or raw smell
Smelling of raw fish, meat, or blood; having an unpleasant raw organic odor.
(さかな)(さわ)ったら()生臭(なまぐさ)くなった。
My hands became fishy after touching the fish.
市場(いちば)(あさ)から生臭(なまぐさ)(にお)いがする。
The market has a fishy smell from early morning.
レモンを(しぼ)ると生臭(なまぐさ)さが()える。
Squeezing lemon removes the fishy smell.
生臭(なまぐさ)()(にお)いがした。
There was a raw, bloody smell.

生臭(なまぐさ)い is a compound i-adjective combining (なま) (raw) + (くさ)い (smelling of).

FORMS:

  • Adverbial: 生臭(なまぐさ)
  • Noun form: 生臭(なまぐさ)

USAGE NOTE:
Primarily used for fish, but also applies to raw meat, blood, or any uncooked animal product. Often describes an unpleasant smell that people want to eliminate.

COLLOCATIONS:

  • 生臭(なまぐさ)(にお)い - fishy smell
  • 生臭(なまぐさ)() - fishy-smelling hands
  • 生臭(なまぐさ)さを()す - to remove the fishy smell

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 生臭(なまぐさ)い vs. 青臭(あおくさ)い: 生臭(なまぐさ)い is for raw fish/meat; 青臭(あおくさ)い is for raw vegetables/grass
  • 生臭(なまぐさ)い vs. (くさ)い: (くさ)い is generic bad smell; 生臭(なまぐさ)い specifically means raw organic smell