匂い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 匂い is read as におい and is a noun for a smell or scent and usable for both pleasant and unpleasant odors.
• Basic usage: The smell of bread coming from a kitchen appears in パンの匂いがする, while a sweet floral scent drifting appears in 甘い匂いが漂う.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Presence and diffusion
  • Use 匂いがする for a detectable smell and 匂いが漂う for a scent drifting through the air.
• Difference from 香り
  • Compared with a word often used for pleasant fragrance, this term is neutral and can also denote unpleasant smells.