プンプン

プ

ン

プ

ン

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

プンプンする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

strong-smelling; pungent

Describes a strong, often unpleasant smell that hits the nose. Used adverbially with と or する.

Describes a person visibly or audibly angry, often with a sulky or indignant attitude. Used with と or する.

〈物もの〉がプンプン(と)匂におうfor something to give off a strong smell
この魚さかなは生なま臭ぐさくてプンプン匂におう。
This fish has a strong, fishy smell.
〈人ひと〉がプンプン(と)怒おこるfor someone to be visibly fuming with anger
彼かれは約やく束そくを破やぶられてプンプン怒おこっていた。
He was fuming with anger after his promise was broken.
〈物もの〉の匂においがプンプンするfor the smell of something to be strong and noticeable
部屋へやにお酒さけの匂においがプンプンしていた。
The room reeked strongly of alcohol.
〈人ひと〉はプンプンしているfor someone to be in a huff/sulking angrily
妹いもうとは何なにかにプンプンしている。
My little sister is in a huff about something.

ツンと sense 1
ツンと describes a sharp, piercing smell (like ammonia or vinegar), while プンプン describes a strong, spreading smell that fills the air.
カンカン sense 2
カンカン describes being visibly furious and often shouting, while プンプン suggests a sulkier, pouting kind of anger.
臭くさいN4sense 1
臭い is a plain adjective meaning 'smelly/stinky', whereas プンプン is an onomatopoeic adverb describing the smell wafting or hanging strongly in the air.
ムカムカN2sense 2
ムカムカ describes a churning, internal feeling of irritation or nausea, while プンプン describes anger that shows outwardly in one's manner.
ムッとN1
プンプン shows anger openly through visible behavior or a strong smell, whereas ムッと is a quieter, more internal show of annoyance.

プリプリ sense 2
プリプリ and プンプン sound alike and both can describe being visibly annoyed, but プリプリ more often implies petulant pouting while プンプン implies open fuming.
ぶんぶん
ブンブン and プンプン look and sound similar, but ブンブン describes a buzzing or droning sound (insects, engines), not smell or anger.

プンプンUsage58%
Common katakana spelling for this mimetic word.
ぷんぷんUsage42%
Hiragana spelling; also used, though katakana is more common for mimetic words.

Mimetic word; the exact derivation is uncertain, but the reduplicated form suggests an emphatic or continuous state.