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.
彼はパンにバターを塗りたくった。
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.
壁に泥を塗りつけた。
He smeared mud on the wall.
To smear on thickly; emphasizes the sticky or heavy application.
彼女は顔にクリームをべったり塗った。
She smeared cream thickly on her face.
To smear by rubbing, often used when transferring a substance from one surface to another.
彼は手についたペンキをズボンにこすりつけた。
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.
彼は政敵を中傷するキャンペーンを始めた。
He started a smear campaign against his political opponent.
Literally 'to damage honor'; a formal phrase for smearing someone's reputation.
その記事は彼の名誉を傷つけるものだった。
The article smeared his reputation.
To pin a bad name on someone; to falsely accuse or smear.
彼らは彼に汚名を着せようとした。
They tried to smear his name.
A stronger, often legal term for defamation and slander.
インターネット上での誹謗中傷は深刻な問題だ。
Online smearing is a serious problem.
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.
涙でマスカラがにじんだ。
Her mascara smeared from tears.
雨でインクがにじんだ。
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
General term for a smear test, such as a Pap smear.
子宮頸がんの塗抹検査を受けた。
I had a cervical smear test.
Loanword for Pap smear, commonly understood in medical contexts.
年に一度パップスメアを受けています。
I get a Pap smear once a year.
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.
子供たちは壁中にペンキを塗りたくりました。
The children smeared paint all over the walls.
彼は悪質な中傷キャンペーンの被害者だった。
He was the victim of a vicious smear campaign.
乾いていないインクをにじませないように気をつけて。
Be careful not to smear the wet ink.
写真がぼやけてしまった。
The photo got smeared.
He smeared the writing with his sleeve.