生臭い

What it means

生臭い means having the odor of raw fish; it describes a strong, pungent smell associated with uncooked seafood and, by extension, a situation that feels suspicious or dubious.

Main meanings

• Literal smell: the strong odor of raw fish or seafood.
• Figurative sense: something that seems fishy or dubious, such as a story or behavior that smells dishonest.

How to use it

Used in casual to neutral speech to describe odors, especially the smell of raw seafood. In a figurative sense, it labels something as suspicious or dubious, appearing in conversation, journalism, and fiction when commenting on quality, authenticity, or credibility. Examples in Japanese: 生臭い匂いがする, 生臭い話には注意.