the senses; sensory faculties
Refers to the physical senses (sight, hearing, etc.) as a collective concept. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
官能の世界を描いた小説。
A novel that depicts the world of the senses.
That perfume is said to stimulate the senses.
Often implies sexual or physical pleasure. Common in literary and artistic descriptions.
彼の絵には官能的な美しさがある。
His paintings have a sensual beauty.
This film is known for visuals that appeal to the senses.
情欲 emphasizes carnal desire or lust itself, whereas 官能 refers more broadly to sensual pleasure or the capacity for physical sensation.
五感 specifically names the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch), while 官能 is a more abstract, literary term for sensory experience as a whole.
感応 (かんのう) sounds identical to 官能 but means a sympathetic response or reaction, unrelated to sensuality or the senses.
functional group
functionality
sensual; voluptuous; sexy
sensualism; sensualist philosophy
erotic novel; pornographic novel
From Middle Chinese 官能 (kwan nong), literally 'official function', later extended to mean 'sensory function' in Japanese.