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.
彼の手は冷や汗をかいていた。
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.
Means 'sticky' or 'tacky'. Used for skin that feels clammy and sticky, often from sweat.
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.
地下室はじめじめしていて、壁が湿っていた。
The basement was clammy and the walls were damp.
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.
湿っぽい話はやめよう。
Let's stop this gloomy talk.
梅雨で毎日じめじめしている。
It's clammy every day because of the rainy season.
熱で肌が湿っぽくなった。
My skin became clammy from the fever.
汗で手がべたつく。
My hands are clammy with sweat.
Simply means 'damp' or 'moist'. Can be used for clammy surfaces, but lacks the sticky nuance.
湿ったタオルが気持ち悪い。
The clammy towel feels gross.
Emphasizes a sticky, clammy feeling, often from humidity or sweat. More colloquial.
この部屋はべとべとしていて嫌だ。
This room is clammy and I hate it.