膠
nikawa[ɲ̟ika̠β̞a̠]
In Japanese, glue can be translated as 膠 (nikawa) or 接着剤.
Meaning: sticky adhesive substance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 膠 | nikawa | [ɲ̟ika̠β̞a̠] (narrow) |
| 接着剤 | setchakuzai | [se̞t̚t͡ɕa̠kɯ̟za̠i] (narrow) |
The term 接着剤 is the standard, general word for any kind of adhesive or glue used in daily life or industry. For more specific contexts, the word のり can also refer to paste or adhesive, while the loanword ボンド is often used in casual conversation to refer to common liquid glue or wood glue.
Which one should you use?
While 接着剤 is the general term for adhesives, 膠 (nikawa) specifically refers to traditional animal glue, which is often made from collagen and used in arts like calligraphy or woodworking.
How do you pronounce it?
nikawa
Did you know?
- In the world of Japanese woodworking, the use of 膠 allows a master to disassemble a joint centuries later by applying heat and steam.
- Traditional 膠 is essential for 金継ぎ (kintsugi), the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. It is used to stabilize the lacquer that bonds the shards back together.
- In Japanese, the word のり for glue is a homophone for 'seaweed' and also for the verb meaning 'to ride' a vehicle.
Examples in context
- 私のスパゲティブリッジに触らないでください！まだ接着剤が固まっている途中です。Don't touch my spaghetti bridge! The glue is still hardening.This sentence shows how to use 接着剤 when discussing a substance that is currently hardening.Tatoeba #912359 by thyc244, translation #911246 by papabear
- 「この接着剤は優れた粘着性があります。」This glue has excellent adhesion.
- 「それ、のりでくっつけてみて。」Try sticking it with glue.
- 「このポスターを壁に貼るのに接着剤が必要です。」You need glue to attach this poster to the wall.
- 「このブランドの接着剤は品質が優れています。」The glue from this brand has excellent quality.
- 伝統的な工芸には、膠が使われます。dentoteki na kogei ni wa, nikawa ga tsukawaremasu.Traditional crafts use glue.
Example conversation
A young man and woman are working on a traditional art project together.
- 陽太 Yotaこの膠は、どうやって使えばいいかな？kono nikawa wa, do yatte tsukaeba ii kana?How should I use this glue?
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くん、筆で丁寧に塗ってください。Yota-kun, fude de teinei ni nutte kudasai.Yota, please apply it carefully with a brush.
- 陽太 Yotaわかった。少し粘り気があるね。wakatta. sukoshi nebarike ga aru ne.Got it. It's a bit sticky, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、それが膠の特徴です。hai, sore ga nikawa no tokucho desu.Yes, that is a characteristic of the glue.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glue” translations and entries 膠, 接着剤, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
