Translation guide
Describes something covered in a slippery, often unpleasant, wet substance. Can also refer to a person who is morally repulsive or insincere.
Describing a surface or substance that is wet, slippery, and often disgusting, like mucus or wet mud.
An onomatopoeic word describing a slimy, slippery texture, often with a negative connotation. Can be used as an adverb or a suru-verb.
Describing a person who is untrustworthy, creepy, or disgustingly ingratiating.
Both describe sliminess, but ぬるぬる is more general and often used for unpleasant, watery slime (like pond scum). ぬめぬめ implies a thicker, more mucous-like texture (like okra or a slug).
納豆はぬるぬるしている。
Natto is slimy.
オクラはぬめぬめしている。
Okra is slimy.
Do not use physical slime words (ぬるぬる, ぬめぬめ) to describe a person's character. It will sound like you are saying they are literally covered in slime. Use words like いやらしい or 胡散臭い instead.
この池の水はぬるぬるしている。
The water in this pond is slimy.
手がぬるぬるする。
My hands feel slimy.
Similar to ぬるぬる, but often implies a smoother, more viscous sliminess, like that of a slug or certain fish.
ナメクジはぬめぬめしている。
Slugs are slimy.
An adverb describing a sudden, brief slimy sensation or movement.
何かぬるっとしたものが足に触れた。
Something slimy touched my foot.
Describes a person or behavior that is lewd, disgusting, or makes you feel uncomfortable. Often used for creepy men.
彼のいやらしい笑い方が嫌いだ。
I hate his slimy smile.
あの政治家はいやらしい。
That politician is slimy.
Literally 'feels bad', a very common way to say someone or something is creepy, gross, or gives you a bad feeling. Can be used for both physical and moral sliminess.
This is a very direct and strong expression. Use with care.
彼は気持ち悪いやつだ。
He's a slimy guy.
Means suspicious, shady, or fishy. Implies the person cannot be trusted, similar to 'slimy' in a business or political context.
あのセールスマンは胡散臭い。
That salesman is slimy.