Translation guide
Describes skin or a surface that feels unpleasantly cool, damp, and sticky, often due to sweat, illness, or humidity.
Describe skin that feels cold and sweaty, often from nervousness, fear, or illness.
Literally 'broke out in a cold sweat'. This is the most natural way to describe clammy skin caused by anxiety, fear, or shock.
Describe a surface or the air that feels unpleasantly damp and sticky, like a basement wall or humid weather.
Describes a damp, humid, and often unpleasant feeling, commonly used for weather, rooms, or surfaces.
湿っぽい (shimeppoi) is a general term for dampness and can be used for skin, weather, or personality (gloomy). じめじめ (jimejime) specifically describes an unpleasant, persistent dampness, often for weather or rooms, and is more negative.
Let's stop this gloomy talk.
His hands were clammy.
Means 'damp' or 'moist', often with a negative nuance. Can describe clammy skin, but is more general for humidity or dampness.
My skin became clammy from the fever.
Means 'sticky' or 'tacky'. Used for skin that feels clammy and sticky, often from sweat.
My hands are clammy with sweat.
The basement was clammy and the walls were damp.
Simply means 'damp' or 'moist'. Can be used for clammy surfaces, but lacks the sticky nuance.
The clammy towel feels gross.
Emphasizes a sticky, clammy feeling, often from humidity or sweat. More colloquial.
This room is clammy and I hate it.
梅雨で毎日じめじめしている。
It's clammy every day because of the rainy season.