臭しゅう

suffix

-smell; stinking of

Attaches to nouns to form compounds meaning 'smelling of ...' or 'reeking of ...'. Often used for unpleasant odors.

See also: カビ臭

• この部屋へやはカビ臭くさい。

  This room smells musty.

• 靴くつ下したが汗あせ臭くさくなった。

  The socks became smelly with sweat.

suffix

smacking of; hinting of

Figurative use: attached to nouns to mean 'suggestive of ...' or 'having a whiff of ...', often with a negative connotation.

• 彼かれの説せつ明めいはうそ臭くさい。

  His explanation sounds fishy.

• その話はなしはいかさま臭くさい。

  That story smacks of fraud.