匂う

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 匂う(におう) is an intransitive verb for something giving off a smell or scent.
• Basic usage: It appears in scenes involving the aroma of fresh bread or the smell of earth after rain.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The source of a smell and the person sensing it
  • パンが匂う means that bread gives off a smell; 匂いを嗅ぐ describes a person smelling something.
  • English smell can cover both roles, but Japanese uses different verbs and particles.
• Conjugation
  • It is a godan verb with forms such as 匂って, 匂った, and 匂わない.