Translation guide
The English word 'oily' can describe literal grease or oil, skin/hair that produces too much oil, food texture, or a figurative unpleasantly smooth manner. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Describing a surface, substance, or object that has oil or grease on it, or is made of oil.
The most common and versatile word for 'oily' in the sense of greasy or containing a lot of oil. Can be used for food, skin, surfaces, etc.
この料理は油っぽい。
This dish is oily.
This face wash is recommended for people with oily skin.
Similar to 油っぽい but often implies a heavier, richer, or more unpleasantly greasy quality. Frequently used for rich, fatty foods.
脂っこい食事は胃にもたれる。
Oily food sits heavy on the stomach.
Means 'covered in oil' or 'soaked with oil', emphasizing a messy state. Often used for hands, tools, or machinery.
作業の後、手が油まみれになった。
After the work, my hands got all oily.
Describing skin or hair that naturally produces too much sebum, looking shiny or greasy.
A noun or な-adjective specifically for 'oily skin type'. Often used in skincare contexts.
私は脂性肌です。
I have oily skin.
Loanword from English, commonly used in cosmetics and beauty product descriptions for 'oily skin'.
オイリー肌用の化粧水
toner for oily skin
Also works for skin/hair, but is more general. 脂性 is more precise for skin type.
髪が油っぽくなってきた。
My hair is getting oily.
Describing a texture that is slick, lubricated, or slippery, often in a neutral or positive sense (e.g., machinery, hair conditioner).
Literally 'like oil', used to describe a smooth, oily texture. Can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.
このトリートメントで髪が油のようにつやつやになった。
This treatment made my hair glossy like oil.
Onomatopoeic word for a slimy, slippery, oily feel. Often used for surfaces or substances that are unpleasantly slick.
床が油でぬるぬるしている。
The floor is oily and slippery.
Describing a person's behavior as excessively smooth, flattering, or insincere, like an 'oily' salesman.
Means 'unpleasantly affable' or 'smooth in a creepy way'. Captures the insincere charm of an oily person.
彼はいやに愛想がいいセールスマンだ。
He's an oily salesman.
Means 'suspicious', 'shady', or 'fishy'. Often used for people who seem too smooth and untrustworthy.
あの胡散臭い笑顔が嫌いだ。
I hate that oily smile.
Both mean 'oily/greasy', but 油っぽい is more general and neutral, while 脂っこい emphasizes a heavy, rich, sometimes unpleasant greasiness, especially for food. For skin, 脂性 (あぶらしょう) is the standard term.
このピザは油っぽいけど、脂っこくはない。
This pizza is oily, but not heavy/greasy.
The noun 油 means 'oil', not 'oily'. To describe something as oily, you need an adjective like 油っぽい or a phrase like 油まみれ.
肌が油だ。
My skin is oil. (incorrect)
Can be used figuratively for a person's manner, but it's less common and may sound odd. Better to use the above phrases.
Using 油っこい for a person is not standard and may cause confusion. Prefer いやに愛想がいい or 胡散臭い.
彼の油っこい話し方が嫌だ。
I dislike his oily way of speaking.