かぐわしい

か

ぐ

わ

し

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

fragrant; sweet-smelling

usually written using kana alone

Describes a pleasant, often rich or elegant scent; somewhat literary and less common in everyday speech than いい匂い.

庭にわに咲さいたバラがかぐわしい香かおりを放はなっている。
The roses blooming in the garden give off a fragrant scent.

このお茶ちゃはかぐわしい香かおりで、飲のむ前まえから楽たのしめる。

This tea has a fragrant aroma that you can enjoy even before drinking it.

Written forms

かぐわしいUsage81%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 香しい, 馨しい, and 芳しい are rare and mainly literary.
香かぐわしいUsage13%
Rare kanji spelling; 香 carries the meaning of fragrance.
馨かぐわしいUsage6%
Rare kanji spelling; 馨 suggests a rich, spreading fragrance.
芳かぐわしい
Rare kanji spelling; 芳 is often associated with a pleasant, refined scent.

Kanji

香incense, smell, perfume
馨fragrant, balmy, favourable
芳perfume, balmy, favorable

Similar words

香こうばしい
香ばしい typically describes a toasty, nutty, or roasted aroma (e.g., coffee, sesame), while かぐわしい is a more general, elegant fragrance often associated with flowers or perfume.
いい匂におい
いい匂い is the common, everyday expression for a good smell, whereas かぐわしい is more literary and refined.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese かぐはし (kaguhashi), an adjective meaning 'fragrant'. The modern form かぐわしい reflects a regular sound shift from は to わ. The exact origin of the root かぐ is uncertain, but it is likely related to the sense of smell.