How to say "greasy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- adverb (with と), suru verb, na-adjective, nounCovers the tactile sense of greasy: an unpleasantly slick, slimy film of oil or grease on skin or surfaces. An onomatopoeic word describing how something feels to the touch.
- i-adjectiveFor greasy food — dishes heavy in oil or fat — this is the word you want; it covers both 'greasy' and 'fatty' when talking about cooking and eating.
- adverb, suru verbReally describes sticky, gluey, gummy textures. Although glossed 'greasy', it is seldom the word you want for grease or oil — think stickiness, not oiliness.
- na-adjective, no-adjective, adverb, suru verbDescribes smooth slipperiness: surfaces so slick that things slide. The 'greasy' gloss is secondary, so for oily grease this is only a marginal choice, the sense being 'slippery' rather than 'oily'.
- i-adjectiveUsed of taste: food that is too rich, heavy, or fatty, in a negative, lingering way. Choose it when 'greasy' means the flavor is over-rich rather than the surface is oily.
Use 「あぶらっこい」 for oily, fatty food, 「しつこい」 for taste that is too rich and heavy, 「ヌルヌル」 for a slimy greasy film on skin or surfaces, while 「ねばねば」 and 「つるつる」 are really about stickiness and slipperiness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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