Translation guide
The English word 'smear' has several distinct meanings: to spread a substance messily, to damage a reputation, and to blur or smudge. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each use.
To apply or spread a soft or sticky substance over a surface in a messy or uneven way.
smear cream on your face · smear paint on the wall · smear grease on the pan
Means to smear or daub on thickly and carelessly. Often used for paint, cream, or food.
He smeared butter on the bread.
To smear or rub something onto a surface, often with a negative nuance of doing it forcefully or messily.
He smeared mud on the wall.
To smear on thickly; emphasizes the sticky or heavy application.
She smeared cream thickly on her face.
To smear by rubbing, often used when transferring a substance from one surface to another.
He smeared the paint from his hands onto his pants.
To make false or damaging statements about someone to harm their reputation.
smear campaign · smear someone's reputation · try to smear his name
To slander or defame; the most direct equivalent for reputation-smearing.
He started a smear campaign against his political opponent.
Literally 'to damage honor'; a formal phrase for smearing someone's reputation.
To pin a bad name on someone; to falsely accuse or smear.
They tried to smear his name.
A stronger, often legal term for defamation and slander.
To make something unclear or messy by rubbing, often ink, makeup, or a surface.
the ink smeared · her lipstick smeared · don't smear the paint
Intransitive verb meaning to blur or run, as with ink or makeup. For transitive 'smear', use にじませる.
Her mascara smeared from tears.
The ink smeared in the rain.
To become blurred or fuzzy, often used for images or vision. Can imply a smeared appearance.
To rub, which can cause smearing. Often used with resultative phrases.
A medical test in which a sample of cells is taken, e.g., Pap smear.
cervical smear · Pap smear
Do not use 塗る (to paint/apply) for damaging reputation. Use 中傷する or similar phrases.
にじむ is specifically for liquids spreading and blurring (ink, makeup), while ぼやける is for general blurriness (focus, outlines). For smearing caused by rubbing, こする is the action.
The children smeared paint all over the walls.
He was the victim of a vicious smear campaign.
Be careful not to smear the wet ink.
The article smeared his reputation.
Online smearing is a serious problem.
写真がぼやけてしまった。
The photo got smeared.
He smeared the writing with his sleeve.