血生臭い

• Reading: ちなまぐさい
• Romaji: chinamagusai
• Kanji breakdown: 血 (chi) — blood; 生 (nama) — raw, fresh; 臭い (kusai) — smelly, stinking
• Pronunciation: /tɕi.na.ma.ɡu.sa.i/

Meaning

Bloody; smelling of blood; bloodthirsty; gory. Describes something that reeks of violence or carries the stench of carnage.

An i-adjective combining 血生 (chinama, fresh blood) and 臭い (kusai, stinking). Used both literally for the physical smell of blood and figuratively for brutal conflicts, ruthless power struggles, or savage historical events. It carries a visceral, unsettling connotation.

Examples

1. 戦場の記録映像は血生臭い場面が多く、胸が痛んだ。 The documentary footage from the battlefield contained many gory scenes that were difficult to watch.
2. 歴史の教科書はしばしば血生臭い権力争いを淡々と記述する。 History textbooks often describe bloody power struggles in a matter-of-fact tone.
3. その政治的取引は表向き穏やかだったが、内情は血生臭いものだった。 The political deal appeared calm on the surface, but behind the scenes it was a bloodthirsty affair.

Usage Guide

Context: history, journalism, literary criticism, war narratives

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 血生 (chinama, raw or fresh blood) and 臭い (kusai, smelling of). The literal meaning of 'smelling of fresh blood' extended to describe anything that evokes brutality or savage conflict.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal