Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 粘着性のある | nenchakusei no aru |
| 粘り気のある | nebarike no aru |
| ベタベタする | betabeta suru |
Japanese uses different terms to describe stickiness depending on whether you are discussing a physical property, a food texture or an unpleasant sensation on the skin.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 粘着性のある is built from 粘着性, which means adhesiveness. This is composed of the characters for stick or knead (粘), attach (着) and nature or property (性).
Which one should you use?
Use 粘着性のある to describe a technical or physical property of a substance, such as the stickiness of an adhesive. Use 粘り気のある to describe a thick, viscous or gooey texture, typically used for liquids or foods like honey and dough. Use ベタベタする to describe an unpleasant sensation of being sticky to the touch, such as when skin is sweaty or soda has spilled.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term ベタベタ is an onomatopoeic reduplication used to emphasize a repetitive or continuous sensation of stickiness.
How do you pronounce it?
nenchakusei no aru
Did you know?
- The term ベタベタ is not just an adjective but can also function as an adverb to describe how someone is acting. For example, it can describe someone who is being overly 'clingy' or 'cuddly' in an annoying way.
- The character 粘 used in 粘着性 also appears in the Japanese word for 'tenacity' or 'persistence'. This creates a conceptual link between the physical property of sticking and the mental quality of not giving up.
- In Japanese, the word for a delicious, chewy texture in food is 粘り気のある, but if you accidentally use the common word for stickiness, ベタベタ, you might imply the food is a messy, unappetizing disaster.
Examples in context
- このシートは手にべたべたする。This sheet feels sticky to the touch.
- このテープは粘着性のあるタイプです。Kono tēpu wa nenchakusei no aru taipu desu.This tape is a sticky type.
- 粘着性のある成分が含まれています。Nenchakusei no aru seibun ga fukumarete imasu.It contains sticky ingredients.
- 粘着性のある物質に触れないでください。Nenchakusei no aru busshitsu ni furenaide kudasai.Please do not touch the sticky substance.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are choosing craft supplies for a project.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、このテープは粘着性のあるタイプかな？Himari, kono tēpu wa nenchakusei no aru taipu kana?Himari, is this tape a sticky type?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても強力に貼り付きますよ。Hai, totemo kyōryoku ni haritsukimasu yo.Yes, it sticks very strongly.
- 大翔 Hirotoちょうどいいですね。これを使いましょう。Chōdo ii desu ne. Kore o tsukaimashō.That's perfect. Let's use this one.
- 陽葵 Himariわかりました。大翔さんに準備してもらいますね。Wakarimashita. Hiroto-san ni junbi shite moraimasu ne.Understood. I'll have Hiroto prepare it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sticky” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
