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仏臭い (ほとけくさい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
i-adjective
otherworldly ; sanctimonious ; preachy
Describes a person or attitude that is overly pious, preachy, or detached from worldly concerns, often with a negative connotation. Literally 'smelling of Buddha'.
あの 人ひと は 仏ほとけ 臭くさ い 顔かお を し て 、 現げん 実じつ 離ばな れ し た こと ばかり 言い う 。
That person has an otherworldly look and only says things detached from reality.
Kanji 仏 Buddha, the dead, France 臭 stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious looking Similar words 説せっ 教きょう 臭くさ い More directly means 'preachy' or 'sermonizing', while 仏臭い carries a nuance of being overly pious or detached in a Buddhist sense.
信しん 心じん 深ぶか い Means 'deeply religious' or 'pious' in a positive sense, without the negative connotation of 仏臭い.
Etymology Compound of 仏 (hotoke, 'Buddha') + 臭い (kusai, 'smelling of'), literally 'smelling of Buddha'. The figurative meaning developed from the idea of someone reeking of excessive piety.