Translation guide
Describes something excessively sweet in a way that is unpleasant or cloying, often used for food, smells, or sentimental expressions.
To describe a food, drink, or smell that is so sweet it becomes unpleasant.
To describe words, behavior, or artistic works that are overly sentimental in a way that feels insincere or irritating.
甘ったるい specifically implies an unpleasant sweetness, while くどい is broader, meaning 'heavy' or 'cloying' in taste, smell, or even personality. For food, 甘ったるい is more precise for 'sickly sweet'.
The most common and natural way to say 'sickly sweet' for taste or smell. Often used for overly sweet desserts or perfumes.
このケーキは甘ったるくて、一口で十分だ。
This cake is sickly sweet; one bite is enough.
部屋に甘ったるい香水の匂いが充満している。
The room is filled with the sickly sweet smell of perfume.
Means 'heavy' or 'cloying' and can describe overly rich, sweet flavors that become tiresome. Also used for persistent or annoying behavior.
Can also mean 'verbose' or 'nagging' when describing a person's speech, so context matters.
このスイーツは甘さがくどい。
This sweet is cloyingly sweet.
Literally 'too sweet'. A straightforward way to say something is excessively sweet, though it lacks the nuance of unpleasantness unless context implies it.
このジュースは甘すぎて飲めない。
This juice is too sweet to drink.
A colloquial, emphatic way to say 'very sweet', often used in casual speech. Can imply sickly sweetness depending on tone.
このドーナツ、甘甘で一個でお腹いっぱい。
This donut is so sickly sweet, one fills me up.
Also used metaphorically for overly sentimental or flattering speech, similar to 'saccharine' in English.
彼の甘ったるいセリフにはうんざりだ。
I'm fed up with his sickly sweet lines.
Literally 'stinky', but used colloquially to mean 'corny' or 'cheesy' for overly sentimental expressions. Often in the phrase セリフがくさい (lines are cheesy).
Very informal; can sound dismissive.
その映画のラブシーンはセリフがくさすぎる。
The love scene in that movie has such sickly sweet dialogue.
Means 'transparently insincere' or 'obviously fake', often used for flattery or sentimental acts that feel forced.
彼女の白々しいお世辞には笑ってしまった。
I couldn't help but laugh at her sickly sweet flattery.