How to say "sticky" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- na-adjective, adverb, suru verbA mimetic word for the tactile sense of sticky: surfaces that cling to the fingers, such as adhesive residue, sweat or spilled syrup. It suggests a tacky, clinging feel.
- adverb, suru verbCovers gluey, gummy or glutinous textures, as of sticky foods and other clinging substances. Close in meaning to ベタベタ, but it evokes the texture itself rather than tacky surfaces.
- 粘っこいねばっこいi-adjectiveAn adjective meaning sticky, gummy, gooey or gluey; it describes much the same texture as ねばねば. Choose it when you want a plain adjective rather than a mimetic expression.
- 粘性ねんせいno-adjectiveA noun for viscosity, the physical property of a fluid; 'sticky' here means viscous or gluey in that technical sense. It is not the everyday word for something that feels sticky to the touch.
- no-adjective, na-adjective, adverb (with と)This is really about a thick, viscous, mushy or pulpy consistency — thick soup, mud — not about tackiness; if you simply mean that something sticks to the fingers, it is seldom the word you want.
Use 「ベタベタ」 for tacky surfaces that cling to the fingers, 「ねばねば」 for gluey, gummy textures, 「粘っこい」 as an adjective for stickiness, 粘性 for viscosity as a property, and 「どろどろ」 for thick, mushy consistency.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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