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.
この床は滑りやすいので気をつけてください。
This floor is slippery, so please be careful.
雨の日は道路が滑りやすくなる。
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.
この道は滑るから注意して。
This road is slippery, so be careful.
Onomatopoeic word for a smooth, slippery surface. Often used for ice, polished floors, or bald heads.
道が凍ってつるつるだ。
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.
この石鹸はぬるぬるしている。
This soap is slippery.
Warn about slippery conditions, often seen on signs.
Used on signs or in warnings. Often combined with 注意 (caution).
滑りやすいのでご注意ください。
Caution: slippery.
Can be used in warnings, e.g., 滑るから気をつけて.
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.
彼はずるいから信用できない。
He's slippery; I can't trust him.
Literally 'cannot be off guard'. Describes someone who is crafty and not to be underestimated.
あの政治家は油断ならない。
That politician is slippery.
Literally 'has no grip'. Describes an elusive, hard-to-pin-down person.
彼は掴みどころがない人だ。
He's a slippery person.
Describe a situation that could easily lead to problems or is hard to control.
Means 'dangerous' or 'precarious'. Can be used for a slippery slope situation.
それは危うい状況だ。
That's a slippery situation.
Literally 'dangerous if you make one wrong step'. Conveys the idea of a slippery slope.
この計画は一歩間違えば危ない。
This plan is a slippery slope.
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.
彼は滑る人だ。
He is a slippery person. (unnatural)
It's slippery, so be careful.