Translation guide
Describes surfaces that are smooth, wet, or icy and cause slipping; also used figuratively for untrustworthy people or tricky situations.
Describing a surface that is smooth, wet, icy, or otherwise likely to cause slipping.
Describing a person who is evasive, cunning, or cannot be trusted.
Describing a situation that is difficult to handle, risky, or delicate.
Means 'delicate situation', often used when a situation is tricky or slippery.
それは微妙な状況だ。
That's a slippery situation.
The English word 'slippery' is often used figuratively for people or situations. In Japanese, different words are used for physical slipperiness and figurative slipperiness. Do not use 滑りやすい for a person unless you mean they are physically prone to slipping.
The most common and neutral way to say a surface is slippery. Literally 'easy to slip'.
この道は雨で滑りやすい。
This road is slippery because of the rain.
冬は路面が滑りやすくなる。
In winter, the road surface becomes slippery.
Verb meaning 'to slip' or 'to be slippery'. Often used in the form 滑る (noun) to describe a slippery thing.
床が滑るから気をつけて。
The floor is slippery, so be careful.
Onomatopoeic word for a smooth, slippery surface, often with a nuance of being polished or icy.
道路が凍ってつるつるだ。
The road is frozen and slippery.
Onomatopoeic word for a slimy, slippery surface, like wet soap or algae.
風呂場の床がぬるぬるしている。
The bathroom floor is slippery (with slime).
Means 'sly' or 'cunning', often used for someone who is slippery in a dishonest way.
彼はずる賢い政治家だ。
He is a slippery politician.
Literally 'there is no place to grab', meaning the person is elusive, hard to pin down, or slippery.
彼は掴みどころがない人だ。
He is a slippery person (hard to grasp).
Means 'cannot be underestimated' or 'slippery' in the sense of being dangerously cunning.
あの男は油断ならない。
That man is slippery (can't let your guard down).
Means 'precarious situation', close to 'slippery' in the sense of being risky.
交渉は危うい状況にある。
The negotiation is in a slippery situation.