Translation guide
Describes slow, gradual movement or change, often in a way that is stealthy, unpleasant, or incremental. Covers physical creeping motion, creeping plants, creeping feelings, and creeping abstract changes.
To move slowly and quietly, often to avoid being noticed, like a person or animal sneaking.
Verb meaning to creep up on someone or something stealthily. Often used for sneaking up or approaching unnoticed.
猫が鳥に忍び寄っている。
The cat is creeping up on the bird.
Phrase meaning to approach stealthily or sneak up. More casual than 忍び寄る.
彼は後ろからこっそり近づいた。
He crept up from behind.
Verb meaning to crawl or creep on the ground, like a baby or insect. Not specifically stealthy, but can describe low, creeping movement.
赤ちゃんが床を這っている。
The baby is creeping on the floor.
Plants that grow along the ground or up surfaces by extending stems or tendrils.
Used for plants that creep or trail along the ground. Often combined with plant names.
ツタが壁を這っている。
The ivy is creeping up the wall.
Adjectival noun meaning 'creeping' or 'prostrate' in botanical contexts. Technical term.
匍匐性の植物が地面を覆っている。
Creeping plants cover the ground.
A sensation as if something is crawling on the skin, often due to fear, disgust, or unease.
Phrase for a sudden creepy or shudder-inducing feeling. Often used for fear or disgust.
その話を聞いてぞっとした。
I felt a creeping sensation when I heard that story.
Literally 'goosebumps stand up'. Describes a creepy, skin-crawling feeling.
不気味な音で鳥肌が立った。
The eerie sound gave me a creeping sensation.
A slow, incremental change that may go unnoticed until significant, often with negative connotations (e.g., creeping inflation, creeping doubt).
Adverb meaning gradually but steadily, often with a sense of pressure or encroachment. Fits 'creeping' in abstract contexts.
不安がじわじわと広がっている。
A creeping anxiety is spreading.
Adverb meaning gradually, little by little. Neutral, lacks the negative nuance of 'creeping' but can be used for slow change.
物価が徐々に上昇している。
Prices are creeping up.
Can be used metaphorically for abstract things that approach stealthily, like danger or old age.
Slow, continuous progress, like a loading bar or gradual increase.
Phrase meaning to advance little by little. Common for describing slow progress.
ダウンロードが少しずつ進んでいる。
The download is creeping along.
English often uses 'creeping' as an adjective (e.g., creeping inflation). Japanese typically uses adverbial phrases like じわじわと or verbs like 忍び寄る rather than a direct adjective equivalent.
老いが忍び寄る。
Old age is creeping up.