Translation guide
Describes surfaces, objects, or conditions that are slick and likely to cause slipping, as well as figurative uses for untrustworthy people or situations.
Describe a surface or object that is slick and easy to slip on.
Most common way to say something is slippery. Literally 'easy to slip'. Used for floors, roads, etc.
This floor is slippery, so please be careful.
Roads become slippery on rainy days.
Verb meaning 'to be slippery' or 'to slip'. Often used in the form 滑る (intransitive) or 滑りやすい.
This road is slippery, so be careful.
Onomatopoeic word for a smooth, slippery surface. Often used for ice, polished floors, or bald heads.
The road is frozen and slippery.
Onomatopoeic word for a slimy, slippery surface, like wet soap or fish. Not for ice or dry slippery surfaces.
This soap is slippery.
Warn about slippery conditions, often seen on signs.
Describe a person who is cunning, evasive, or cannot be trusted.
Means 'sly' or 'cunning'. Often used for someone who avoids responsibility or tricks others.
He's slippery; I can't trust him.
Literally 'cannot be off guard'. Describes someone who is crafty and not to be underestimated.
That politician is slippery.
Literally 'has no grip'. Describes an elusive, hard-to-pin-down person.
He's a slippery person.
Describe a situation that could easily lead to problems or is hard to control.
For physical slipperiness, use 滑りやすい or 滑る. For untrustworthy people, ずるい is common, but it means 'sly' rather than physically slippery. Avoid directly translating 'slippery' as 滑る for people; it sounds odd.
He is a slippery person. (unnatural)
It's slippery, so be careful.
This plan is a slippery slope.