taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
vulgar; coarse; lacking in class
A yojijukugo describing a person or atmosphere that is strongly vulgar, coarse, or lacking refinement. Often used in literary or formal contexts with the たる or と particle.
People frowned at his vulgarly coarse behavior.
その店の内装は俗臭芬々としていて、趣味の悪さが目立った。
The interior of that shop was vulgarly tasteless, with its lack of class standing out.
A more common, colloquial adjective meaning 'vulgar' or 'worldly'. 俗臭芬々 is a much stronger, literary yojijukugo emphasizing an offensive lack of refinement.
A standard noun/adjective meaning 'vulgar' or 'crude'. 俗臭芬々 is more emphatic and literary, often describing an atmosphere or overall impression rather than a single action.
Standard kanji form for this yojijukugo.
Variant with 芬 repeated instead of the iteration mark 々.
Variant using 紛 instead of 芬; less common and may be considered a misspelling.
Variant with 紛 repeated; see note for 俗臭紛々.
A yojijukugo composed of 俗 (vulgar, worldly), 臭 (smell, stench), and 芬々 (strong-smelling, pervasive). The literal meaning is 'the stench of vulgarity is strong', used figuratively for coarseness. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of four-character idioms describing undesirable traits.