When something has a pleasant smell, you can use the verb 香る (kaoru). This isn't about just any smell; it specifically implies a nice, fragrant aroma, like from flowers or coffee.
It's an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. You'll often see it used in descriptions of nature or food.
For example, you might say 「花の香りがする」 (Hana no kaori ga suru) to mean "there's a flower scent." This word helps you describe the world around you with more nuance.
The verb 香る (かおる) means 'to smell good' or 'to be fragrant.' It describes something that naturally emits a pleasant scent.
You often hear this verb when talking about flowers, coffee, tea, or even certain foods that have a distinct and enjoyable aroma. For instance, you might say 「花の香りがする」 (hana no kaori ga suru) to mean 'there's a fragrant smell of flowers.'
It's different from simply 「匂いがする」 (nioi ga suru), which is a more neutral term for 'there's a smell,' good or bad.
So, when you want to specifically convey that something has a lovely fragrance, 香る is the verb to use.
Hello everyone! Today we're looking at a useful Japanese verb: 香る (kaoru). You might know it means 'to smell good' or 'to be fragrant.' It's a straightforward word, but knowing how and where it's used makes a big difference in sounding natural. Let's dive into real-world examples.
§ Basic Meaning and Usage
- Japanese Word
- 香る (kaoru)
- Part of Speech
- Verb
- CEFR Level
- B1
- Definition
- To smell good, to be fragrant.
Unlike 匂う (niou), which can mean to smell good or bad, 香る (kaoru) is always positive. It refers specifically to pleasant smells. Think of flowers, coffee, or a nice perfume. It's a verb that directly describes something as having a good scent.
§ In Daily Life and Conversation
You'll hear 香る (kaoru) in many everyday situations, especially when talking about food, drinks, and nature. Imagine walking into a cafe or a flower shop; this word fits perfectly.
淹れたてのコーヒーがとても香る。
The freshly brewed coffee smells wonderful.
庭のバラが美しく香っている。
The roses in the garden are beautifully fragrant.
You can use it to describe the aroma of a dish too, like a soup or a dessert. It adds a touch of elegance to your description.
このハーブティーは爽やかに香る。
This herbal tea has a refreshing aroma.
§ In Professional Settings and Media
Even in more formal contexts, like product descriptions or news reports about local events, 香る (kaoru) appears. For example, if a new line of scented candles or a special limited-edition coffee is released, you'll see this word used to highlight its appealing scent.
Product reviews/descriptions: Often used to describe cosmetics, food, or drinks.
このシャンプーはフルーティーに香る。
This shampoo has a fruity scent.News reports: When talking about seasonal flowers blooming or special events featuring aromatic elements.
桜が咲き始め、春の訪れが香る。
Cherry blossoms have started to bloom, and the scent of spring is in the air. (Literally: Spring's arrival smells good.)
You might also find it in creative writing or poetry, where the imagery of scent is important. However, for everyday communication, focus on its practical use for good smells.
By actively listening for and trying to use 香る (kaoru) in these contexts, you'll naturally get a feel for it. Pay attention to how native speakers use it when describing things with a pleasant aroma. Keep practicing, and soon it will become a natural part of your Japanese vocabulary!
Difficulty Rating
short
short
short
short
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
花の匂いがとても香る。
The flower's scent really smells good.
この紅茶はいい香りがする。
This black tea has a nice fragrance.
焼きたてのパンが香る。
The freshly baked bread smells fragrant.
森の中は木の香りが香る。
The forest smells of wood.
石鹸がいい匂いで香る。
The soap smells good.
お風呂にレモンの香りが香る。
The bath smells of lemon.
部屋中にアロマの香りが香る。
The aroma fills the room.
コーヒーの香りがキッチンに広がる。
The smell of coffee spreads in the kitchen.
この花はとてもいい香りがします。
This flower smells very good.
淹れたてのコーヒーが香る。
Freshly brewed coffee is fragrant.
部屋中にアロマの香りが広がった。
The aroma of the diffuser spread throughout the room.
焼きたてのパンが香ばしく香る。
Freshly baked bread smells deliciously fragrant.
ワイングラスからフルーティーな香りがする。
A fruity fragrance comes from the wine glass.
お茶のいい香りが心を落ち着かせる。
The nice aroma of tea calms the mind.
雨上がりの森は、土のいい香りがする。
The forest after the rain has a nice earthy smell.
この石鹸は、ハーブの香りがとてもいい。
This soap has a very nice herbal scent.
この花は甘く香る。
This flower smells sweet.
Describes a natural, pleasant scent emitted by the subject.
焼きたてのパンが部屋中に香る。
The freshly baked bread fills the room with its aroma.
Indicates a scent spreading and filling a space.
彼女の髪から良い香りがする。
A nice scent comes from her hair.
Used with から to show the source of the fragrance.
コーヒーの香りが私を目覚めさせる。
The aroma of coffee wakes me up.
The scent itself is the agent causing an action.
お香が静かに香る部屋で瞑想する。
I meditate in a room where incense quietly wafts.
Describes a subtle or gentle diffusion of scent.
ワイングラスを回すと、フルーティーな香りがする。
When you swirl the wine glass, it gives off a fruity aroma.
Used to describe the scent released from an object when manipulated.
森の中では土の匂いが香る。
In the forest, the smell of earth is fragrant.
Can refer to natural, earthy scents as well.
この石鹸はラベンダーが香る。
This soap has a lavender fragrance.
Indicates a product being scented with a particular aroma.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
この花はとても香りますね。(Kono hana wa totemo kaorimasu ne.)
This flower smells very nice, doesn't it?
焼きたてのパンが部屋中に香っている。(Yakitate no pan ga heya-jū ni kaotte iru.)
The freshly baked bread is scenting the whole room.
彼女の髪はシャンプーの香りがした。(Kanojo no kami wa shanpū no kaori ga shita.)
Her hair smelled of shampoo.
珈琲豆を挽くと良い香りがする。(Kōhī mame o hiku to yoi kaori ga suru.)
When you grind coffee beans, they smell good.
森の中は土と木の香りがした。(Mori no naka wa tsuchi to ki no kaori ga shita.)
Inside the forest, there was the smell of earth and trees.
部屋にアロマキャンドルを焚いて香らせた。(Heya ni aroma kyandoru o taite kaoraseta.)
I lit an aroma candle in the room to make it fragrant.
夕食の準備中、おいしい匂いが香ってきた。(Yūshoku no junbi-chū, oishii nioi ga kaotte kita.)
During dinner preparation, a delicious smell wafted in.
このお茶は独特の香りがします。(Kono ocha wa tokutoku no kaori ga shimasu.)
This tea has a unique fragrance.
風に乗って金木犀の甘い香りが漂ってきた。(Kaze ni notte kinmokusei no amai kaori ga tadayotte kita.)
The sweet scent of osmanthus drifted on the wind.
バスタイムはいつも良い香りの入浴剤を使います。(Basutaimu wa itsumo yoi kaori no nyūyokuzai o tsukaimasu.)
I always use good-smelling bath additives for bath time.
Grammar Patterns
Idioms & Expressions
"バラが香る庭"
A fragrant rose garden
バラが香る庭を散歩するのはとても気持ちがいいです。
neutral"コーヒーの香る朝"
A morning filled with the aroma of coffee
コーヒーの香る朝は、一日の始まりにぴったりです。
neutral"香りの良いお茶"
Fragrant tea
この香りの良いお茶は、リラックスしたい時に最高です。
neutral"春の香りがする"
Smells like spring
窓を開けると、春の香りがします。
neutral"花が香る"
Flowers are fragrant
庭の花が美しく香っています。
neutral"芳醇な香りがする"
Has a rich aroma
このワインは芳醇な香りがしますね。
neutral"香ばしい香りがする"
Has a savory/toasty aroma
焼きたてのパンから香ばしい香りがします。
neutral"甘い香りが漂う"
A sweet fragrance drifts
部屋中に甘い香りが漂っています。
neutral"香りを放つ"
To emit a fragrance
この石鹸は良い香りを放ちます。
neutral"香りに誘われる"
To be drawn by the scent
美味しい匂いに誘われて、レストランに入りました。
neutralSentence Patterns
〜が香る (〜ga kaoru)
〜から香る (〜kara kaoru)
〜ように香る (〜you ni kaoru)
〜を香らせる (〜o kaoraseru)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions香る (kaoru) specifically means 'to smell good' or 'to be fragrant'. It always has a positive connotation. 匂う (niou) is more general and can mean 'to smell' in a neutral way, or even 'to smell bad' depending on context and what is doing the smelling.
No. 香る (kaoru) is reserved for pleasant smells. Think of flowers, coffee, perfume, or freshly baked bread. If something smells unpleasant, you would use a different verb like 臭う (kusau) for 'to stink'.
A very common phrase is 「〜がいい香りがする」 (〜 ga ii kaori ga suru), meaning '〜 has a good scent'. You can also simply say 「香る」 to describe something that smells good without explicitly stating 'good scent' because it's implied by the verb itself.
香る (kaoru) is typically used as an intransitive verb. This means the subject itself is doing the smelling good. For example, 「花が香る」 (Hana ga kaoru) - 'The flower smells good'.
Yes. While 香る (kaoru) is a verb, the noun form for 'fragrance' or 'scent' is 香り (kaori). You might also hear adjectives like 芳しい (kanbashii), which means 'fragrant' or 'aromatic', often used for flowers.
Here's a simple example: コーヒーが香る。 (Kōhī ga kaoru.) - 'The coffee smells good/fragrant.'
It can be used in a slightly extended way, yes. For example, you might say someone's personality '香る' (kaoru) if they have a charming or refined aura. However, this is less common than its literal use.
The kanji 香 (ka) itself means 'fragrance', 'aroma', or 'incense'. When combined with other kanji or used in verbs like 香る (kaoru), it carries that meaning of pleasant scent.
The polite -masu form is 香ります (kaorimasu). For example, 「このお茶はとても香りますね。」 (Kono ocha wa totemo kaorimasu ne.) - 'This tea smells very fragrant, doesn't it?'
Yes, 香る (kaoru) is quite common, especially when talking about food, drinks, flowers, or anything that gives off a pleasant aroma. It's a useful word to know for describing good smells.
Test Yourself 48 questions
このコーヒーはとてもよく___。
コーヒーが良い匂いなので「香る」を使います。
花が___、部屋がいい匂いになった。
花が良い匂いを放っているので「香る」が適切です。
焼きたてのパンが___。
焼きたてのパンは良い匂いがするので「香る」を使います。
お風呂にレモンの香りの入浴剤を入れたら、___。
レモンの香りの入浴剤なので「香る」が適切です。
この石鹸はとてもいい___。
石鹸の良い匂いを表すので「香り」が適切です。
朝、庭の花が___。
庭の花が良い匂いを放っているので「香る」が適切です。
Imagine you're walking in a park. What Japanese word would you use to describe the pleasant smell of flowers?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
公園で花が香る。
You just brewed some coffee. How would you say "The coffee smells good" in Japanese, using the verb for "to smell good"?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
コーヒーが香る。
Your favorite shampoo has a nice scent. How would you describe the shampoo's fragrance using the appropriate Japanese verb?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
このシャンプーは香る。
What is described as having a sweet fragrance?
Read this passage:
朝、庭を歩くと、バラの花がとてもきれいに咲いていました。そして、甘い香りがしました。
What is described as having a sweet fragrance?
The passage states 「バラの花がとてもきれいに咲いていました。そして、甘い香りがしました。」 meaning 'The roses were blooming very beautifully. And they had a sweet fragrance.'
The passage states 「バラの花がとてもきれいに咲いていました。そして、甘い香りがしました。」 meaning 'The roses were blooming very beautifully. And they had a sweet fragrance.'
What does the speaker like about the freshly baked bread?
Read this passage:
お母さんが作ったパンは、いつもいい匂いがします。焼きたてのパンが香るのが好きです。
What does the speaker like about the freshly baked bread?
The sentence 「焼きたてのパンが香るのが好きです。」 directly translates to 'I like that the freshly baked bread smells good.'
The sentence 「焼きたてのパンが香るのが好きです。」 directly translates to 'I like that the freshly baked bread smells good.'
What do you do before drinking this special tea?
Read this passage:
このお茶は特別な種類で、飲む前に香りを楽しみます。カップから良い香りがします。
What do you do before drinking this special tea?
The passage says 「飲む前に香りを楽しみます。」, which means 'Before drinking, I enjoy the fragrance.'
The passage says 「飲む前に香りを楽しみます。」, which means 'Before drinking, I enjoy the fragrance.'
This sentence means 'This flower smells very good.' 'この' (kono) means 'this', '花は' (hana wa) means 'flower (topic particle)', 'とても' (totemo) means 'very', and '香ります' (kaorimasu) is the polite form of 'to smell good'.
This sentence means 'The tea has a good fragrance.' 'お茶が' (ocha ga) means 'tea (subject particle)', 'いい' (ii) means 'good', '香りが' (kaori ga) means 'fragrance (subject particle)', and 'します' (shimasu) means 'does' or 'makes', often used with '香り' to express 'to have a smell'.
This sentence means 'The bread baked, and the aroma spread through the room.' 'パンが' (pan ga) means 'bread (subject particle)', '焼けて' (yakete) is the -te form of 'to bake', '部屋に' (heya ni) means 'in the room', '香りが' (kaori ga) means 'aroma (subject particle)', and '広がった' (hirogatta) is the past tense of 'to spread'.
This flower smells very good.
The aroma of coffee is spreading throughout the room.
Freshly baked bread smells fragrant and savory.
Read this aloud:
この紅茶は香りがいいね。
Focus: かおり (kaori)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
森の中は土の香りがする。
Focus: つちの (tsuchi no)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
石鹸のいい香りがする。
Focus: せっけん (sekken)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
このコーヒーはとてもよく___。
「香る」は良い匂いがすることを表す動詞です。「嗅ぐ」は匂いをかぐ行為、「匂う」は匂いがする全般、「臭い」は悪い匂いがする場合に使います。
お風呂にバラの花びらを浮かべたら、部屋中に良い香りが___。
「香った」は、香りが周囲に広がる、感じられるというニュアンスで使われます。部屋全体に香りが満ちた状態を表します。
焼きたてのパンが___、食欲をそそる。
パンの良い匂いは「香ばしい」という形容詞と「香る」を合わせて表現するのが自然です。
春になると、庭の花々が美しく___。
花の良い香りを表現する際には「香る」が適切です。「匂う」は良い匂いも悪い匂いも指しますが、この文脈では「香る」が良いでしょう。
この紅茶はフルーツの香りが___、とてもリラックスできる。
「豊かに香る」は、香りがたくさん感じられる様子を表すのに適しています。紅茶の香りの良さを強調します。
彼の部屋にはいつもアロマが___いて、心地よい。
アロマの良い匂いを表現するには「香って」が適切です。良い香りが漂っている状態を示します。
This sentence describes the fragrance of flowers drifting through a room.
This sentence means 'The coffee for breakfast smells good.'
This sentence means 'The freshly baked bread smells very fragrant.'
このコーヒーはとても濃厚で、部屋中に良い香りが___。
「漂う」は、香りが空間にふんわりと広がる様子を表すのに最も適切です。
焼き立てのパンの香りが食欲を___。
「そそる」は、食欲や興味などをかきたてるという意味で、この文脈にぴったりです。
彼女が通り過ぎると、いつも甘い香りが___。
人が通り過ぎた後に香りが持続する様子を表すのに「後に残る」が自然です。
夜になると、庭の金木犀（きんもくせい）が強く___。
「香る」は良い匂いを発する植物などに使われます。「匂う」は良い匂いにも悪い匂いにも使えますが、ここでは金木犀の香りが良いことを強調しています。
温泉街には硫黄の香りが___。
「立ち込める」は、匂いや煙などが一面に広がり、濃く漂っている様子を表します。
この部屋には、いつもアロマオイルの心地よい香りが___。
「満ちている」は、あるものが全体にいきわたっている状態を表し、心地よい香りで部屋全体が包まれている様子が伝わります。
What fills the room?
What smells fragrant and savory?
What kind of scent came from her hair?
Read this aloud:
このコーヒーはとても良い香りがしますね。
Focus: 香りがします (kaori ga shimasu)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
庭に咲くバラが美しく香る。
Focus: 美しく香る (utsukushiku kaoru)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
このお茶は独特の香りがして、とてもリラックスできます。
Focus: 独特の香りがして (tokutoku no kaori ga shite)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Example
庭のバラが甘く香る。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More nature words
～上
B1Above; on top of; up.
〜の上
A2On top of, above, upon.
豊か
B1Abundant; rich; plentiful (na-adjective).
〜に従って
B1According to, in conformity with, as (something happens).
酸性雨
B1Acid rain.
営み
B1Activity; daily life; undertaking (e.g., life's activities).
順応する
B1To adapt; to adjust; to conform.
~を背景に
B1Against the backdrop of; with...as background.
空気
A2air
大気汚染
B1Air pollution; the presence of harmful substances in the air.
