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香水 (こうすい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

香こう水すい

こ

う

す

い

Common word›JLPTN3›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

General term for liquid fragrance applied to the body or used in a room.

彼かの女じょは新あたらしい香こう水すいをつけている

。

She is wearing a new perfume.

この香こう水すいは花はなのような香かおりがする。

This perfume smells like flowers.

Usage patterns

香こう水すいをつけるto put on perfume
出でかける前まえに香こう水すいをつけた。
I put on perfume before going out.
香こう水すいをかけるto spray perfume on oneself
彼かの女じょは首くび筋すじに香こう水すいをかけた。
She sprayed perfume on her neck.
香こう水すいの匂においがするto smell of perfume
彼かれのコートから香こう水すいの匂においがした。
His coat smelled of perfume.

Kanji

香incense, smell, perfume
水water

Related words

香かおりN3
香り is the general word for any pleasant scent, while 香水 refers specifically to a manufactured liquid fragrance product.
匂においN4
匂い is a neutral or sometimes negative word for smell in general, whereas 香水 names a positive cosmetic product worn on the body.
オーデコロン
オーデコロン (eau de cologne) is a lighter, less concentrated fragrance than 香水.
香こう料りょう
香水 refers specifically to perfume worn on the body, while 香料 is the general term for any fragrant substance, including raw materials.

Don't confuse with

香こう料りょう
香料 refers to the raw fragrance ingredient or flavoring used in manufacturing, while 香水 is the finished liquid product applied to the skin.
香かおりN3
香水 is the physical product 'perfume', not the scent itself, whereas 香り is the abstract fragrance or aroma something gives off.
香こう
香 refers to burned aromatic incense, while 香水 is liquid perfume worn on the skin, not burned.

Counted with

滴てき
counter for drops of liquid

Word family

香こう水すい瓶びん
perfume bottle; scent bottle

Etymology

Compound of 香 (fragrance) and 水 (water), literally 'fragrant water'. The reading こうすい is the standard Sino-Japanese on'yomi.