i-adjective
smelling of fish; smelling of blood; fishy; bloody
Literal use for the raw, unpleasant smell of fish, meat, or blood. Common with におい, 手, 台所, 傷, and similar nouns.
魚をさばいた後、手が生臭い。
After cleaning the fish, my hands smell fishy.
血のついた包帯
A bloody, raw smell came from the bloodstained bandage.
i-adjective
depraved; corrupt; fallen
Critical use especially for a monk or religious person who is worldly, corrupt, or violates religious discipline. It often implies moral taint rather than just ordinary bad behavior.
戒律を破って酒を飲む生臭い坊主として知られていた。
He was known as a corrupt monk who broke the precepts and drank.
i-adjective
worldly; mundane; secular; common
Figurative use for matters tied to money, power, desire, or everyday worldly concerns, often with a slightly negative or unrefined tone.
会議は理想論から、金と利権の生臭い話に移った。
The meeting shifted from ideals to worldly talk about money and interests.
i-adjective
suspicious; questionable; fishy
Figurative sense for something that feels fishy, dubious, or morally unsavory. It overlaps with suspicion of hidden corruption rather than mere uncertainty.
この儲け話は、どうにも生臭い。
This money-making scheme seems awfully fishy.