How to Say "Slippery" in Japanese

滑りやすい

suberiyasui

The English word "slippery" is translated into Japanese as 滑りやすい (suberiyasui).

Meaning: of a surface (adj)

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

Adding です (desu) to the end makes the phrase polite and suitable for public warnings or speaking to strangers.

The past tense form of the adjective is 滑りやすかった (suberiyasukatta).

suberiyasui

The root verb 滑る (suberu) is used in Japanese slang to describe a comedian whose joke fails to get a laugh, meaning they 'slipped' or 'bombed'.
Japanese warning signs for slippery floors often use the noun 足元注意 (ashimoto chūi), which literally means 'watch your feet', rather than just the adjective 滑りやすい.
When a floor is unexpectedly slippery due to a spill, people might use the onomatopoeic word つるつる (tsuru-tsuru) to describe the sensation, rather than just the adjective 滑りやすい.

床滑りやすいから気をつけてね。
The floor is slippery, so be careful.
This sentence shows how to use 滑りやすい to warn someone about a floor.
Tatoeba #7016746 by tommy_san, translation #3550131 by CK
滑りやすいのでご注意ください。
Please be careful of the slippery surface.
This sentence uses 滑りやすい in a formal way to advise caution.
Tatoeba #10588052 by Sonata, translation #12589149 by urro
濡れた床はとても滑りやすいです。
The wet floor is very slippery.
This sentence demonstrates how to describe a wet floor using 滑りやすい.
Tatoeba #11016620 by small_snow, translation #9189290 by DJ_Saidez
道路が滑りやすいです。
The road is slippery.
雪の上は滑りやすくなります。
It becomes slippery on the snow.
この床は滑りやすいので気を付けてください。
This floor is slippery, so please be careful.
このリンゴ、すべりやすいよ。
This apple is slippery.
雨の日は外がすべりやすくなるね。
The outside becomes slippery on rainy days, right?
床が滑るから気をつけて。
Be careful because the floor is slippery.
滑りやすい靴は避けた方がいいよ。
It's better to avoid shoes that are slippery.
8 more sentences on Tatoeba

A man and a woman are walking near a river after it rained.

陽太 Yota

この道、すごく滑りやすいよ。
Kono michi, sugoku suberi yasui yo.
This road is very slippery.
美咲 Misaki

本当だ、足元に気をつけて。
Hontou da, ashimoto ni ki wo tsukete.
You're right, watch your step.
陽太 Yota

雨の後は滑りやすいね。
Ame no ato wa suberi yasui ne.
It is slippery after the rain, isn't it?
美咲 Misaki

陽太君、転ばないようにね。
Youta-kun, korobanai you ni ne.
Youta, be careful not to fall.

Sources

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