Translation guide
The act of attaching things with adhesive. In Japanese, the most common verb is 貼る (haru) for sticking flat things like paper or stickers, while 接着する (setchaku suru) is more technical for bonding materials. The choice depends on what is being glued and the context.
Expressing the action of attaching something flat to a surface using glue or adhesive.
The most common verb for sticking flat things like paper, stamps, or tape onto a surface. Transitive verb.
封筒に切手を貼る。
I stick a stamp on the envelope.
壁にポスターを貼った。
I put up a poster on the wall (using glue/tape).
A casual, general verb meaning 'to attach' or 'to stick'. Can be used for gluing, but also for other methods of attachment. Often used in everyday speech.
壊れたおもちゃを接着剤でくっつけた。
I glued the broken toy back together.
Expressing the action of joining parts or materials using glue, often in crafts, repairs, or manufacturing.
A technical verb meaning 'to bond' or 'to adhere'. Used for strong, permanent gluing, often with specific adhesives. Common in instructions and industrial contexts.
木とプラスチックを接着する。
I bond wood and plastic together.
この接着剤は金属も接着できます。
This glue can bond metal as well.
Same as above, but used in compound nouns like 接着剤 (adhesive).
接着剤で部品を接着する。
I glue the parts together with adhesive.
Literally 'to paste together', used for gluing layers or sheets together, like laminating or making plywood.
Expressing the simple action of using glue without specifying the object or method.
A common phrase meaning 'to attach with glue'. のり (nori) is the general word for glue or paste. Suitable for everyday situations like arts and crafts.
紙をのりでつける。
I glue the paper on.
折り紙をのりでつけて飾りを作った。
I glued origami pieces together to make a decoration.
Similar to above but specifies 'with adhesive', implying a stronger bond than simple paste.
割れた皿を接着剤でつけた。
I glued the broken plate back together.
貼る (haru) is for sticking flat, thin objects like paper, stamps, or tape onto surfaces. 接着する (setchaku suru) is for bonding materials together with strong adhesive, often in technical or repair contexts. Using 貼る for gluing a broken vase would sound odd; use 接着する or くっつける instead.
In English, 'gluing' can be a noun (the act of gluing). In Japanese, it's more natural to use the verb phrase or a noun like 接着 (setchaku). For example, 'Gluing is difficult' would be 接着は難しい rather than a direct translation of the gerund.
板を張り合わせてテーブルを作る。
I glue boards together to make a table.