to smell
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to smell
To perceive a particular smell with the nose or to give off a smell. Often used with the preposition 'nach' (of/like).
Im ganzen Haus riecht es nach frisch gebackenem Kuchen.
The whole house smells of freshly baked cake.
'Riechen' (to smell) can be used in two ways. Either a person actively perceives a smell (transitive with an accusative object), or a thing gives off a smell (intransitive, often with 'es').
Ich rieche den Duft der Rosen.
I smell the scent of the roses.
When something has a particular smell, this is almost always expressed with the preposition 'nach' and the dative. The structure is: Es riecht nach + [smell].
Deine Hände riechen nach Zwiebeln.
Your hands smell of onions.
When you actively sniff something in order to check its smell, you use the preposition 'an' with the dative. The structure is: an etwas (Dativ) riechen.
Riech mal an dieser Blume, sie duftet herrlich!
Smell this flower, it smells wonderful!
The colloquial expression 'jemanden nicht riechen können' means that you don't like a person at all. The person you don't like is in the accusative.
Seit unserem Streit kann ich ihn einfach nicht mehr riechen.
Since our argument, I simply can't stand him anymore.
In a figurative sense, 'riechen' (to smell) means to suspect or sense something. Typical combinations are 'Gefahr riechen' (to smell danger) or 'den Braten riechen' (to smell a rat / suspect a trap).
Als der Chef so freundlich war, habe ich sofort den Braten gerochen.
When the boss was being so friendly, I immediately smelled a rat.
to hate
'hassen' and 'jemanden oder etwas nicht riechen können' both express a strong dislike. 'hassen' is more direct and can be meant very strongly, for people or things. In everyday language, however, it is also used exaggeratingly when you really do not like something. 'nicht riechen können' is a fixed, colloquial expression. It sounds more personal and often a bit more casual. Important: in this meaning, you do not simply say 'riechen', but 'nicht riechen können'.
Meinen neuen Nachbarn kann ich nicht riechen, weil er immer unfreundlich ist.
I can't stand my new neighbor because he is always unfriendly.
Julia hasst es, wenn jemand beim Essen laut telefoniert.
Julia hates it when someone talks loudly on the phone during a meal.