ステッカー
sutekkā[sɨ̥te̞k̚ka̠ː]
The English phrase 'stickers' can be translated into Japanese as ステッカー (sutekkā).
ステッカー refers to small pieces of printed paper or plastic with adhesive on the back used for decoration or labeling.
Which one should you use?
While ステッカー is used, the word シール is much more common for general-purpose stickers, such as those used for labeling or small decorative stickers. ステッカー often carries a nuance of being a 'cool' or 'graphic' sticker, such as those used for decorating laptops, cars or skateboards, whereas シール is more generic.
How does it change in a sentence?
Japanese nouns do not change form to indicate plurality, so ステッカー can mean either 'sticker' or 'stickers'.
How do you pronounce it?
sutekkā
Did you know?
- In Japanese digital culture, the word for 'stickers' used in messaging apps like LINE is スタンプ, which actually means 'stamp'.
- While ステッカー comes from 'sticker', the common word シール is a loanword from the English 'seal', which originally referred to an official wax stamp.
- In Japan, there is a specific culture called シール集め where people collect and trade stickers in dedicated albums, a hobby that peaked in popularity during the 1980s and 1990s.
Examples in context
- オフィス用品のコーナーには、たくさんの種類のシールがあります。In the office supplies section, there are many types of stickers.
- お客様には、ステッカーをプレゼントいたします。We will give you a sticker as a gift, dear customer.
- あの可愛いシール、どこで買ったの？Where did you buy those cute stickers?
- 今日、新しいシールを使って手紙をデコレーションするつもり。Today, I plan to decorate my letter using new stickers.
- ノートにステッカーを貼りました。Nōto ni sutekkā o harimashita.I put stickers on my notebook.
- このステッカーはとても可愛いです。Kono sutekkā wa totemo kawaii desu.This sticker is very cute.
- パソコンにステッカーをたくさん貼っています。Pasokon ni sutekkā o takusan hatte imasu.There are many stickers on the laptop.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are looking at a laptop.
- 美咲 Misakiパソコンにステッカーがたくさんありますね。Pasokon ni sutekkā ga takusan arimasu ne.You have a lot of stickers on your computer.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、旅行のお土産のステッカーです。Hai, ryokō no omiyage no sutekkā desu.Yes, they are stickers I got as souvenirs from my trips.
- 美咲 Misakiおしゃれでいいですね。Oshare de ii desu ne.They look stylish and nice.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ステッカー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
