# 匂 — smell; scent

匂 means “smell; scent”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 4 strokes.  Kun'yomi: にお(う) (niou). You'll see it in words such as 匂い (nioi, “smell; scent”).

- Meaning: smell; scent
- On'yomi: —
- Kun'yomi: にお(う) (niou)
- Strokes: 4
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Qualities 5

## How to remember 匂

Parts: 勹 wrap · 匕 sitting person; spoon

## Words with 匂

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 匂い | におい (nioi) | smell; scent |
| 匂う | におう (niou) | to be fragrant; to smell |

## More in the “Qualities 5” set

[浅](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/shallow/) · [軟](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/soft/) · [珍](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/rare/) · [鋭](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/sharp/) · [鈍](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/dull/) · [偉](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/great/) · [匂](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/smell/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/smell/. Last updated 2026-11-01.