Translation guide
The English word 'starch' can refer to the carbohydrate used in food, a substance for stiffening clothes, or figuratively to stiffness or formality. This guide covers how to express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
Referring to starch as a component of foods like potatoes, rice, or as a cooking ingredient (e.g., cornstarch).
The general term for starch as a carbohydrate. Used in food contexts and nutrition.
じゃがいもにはでんぷんが多く含まれています。
Potatoes contain a lot of starch.
でんぷんは炭水化物の一種です。
Starch is a type of carbohydrate.
Potato starch, commonly used as a thickener in Japanese cooking. Often used like cornstarch.
とろみをつけるために片栗粉を加えてください。
Add potato starch to thicken the sauce.
Cornstarch, often used in Western-style cooking and baking.
コーンスターチでソースをとろみづけする。
Thicken the sauce with cornstarch.
Referring to starch used to stiffen clothes, especially shirts and collars.
Laundry starch. The standard term for starch used in ironing.
シャツに洗濯のりをつけてアイロンをかける。
Starch the shirt and iron it.
Generic term for starch or paste, including laundry starch. Context clarifies meaning.
襟にのりをきかせる。
Starch the collar stiff.
Describing a person or behavior as stiff, formal, or lacking spontaneity.
Means stiff, formal, or ceremonious. Used for people or atmospheres.
彼はいつも堅苦しくて、冗談が通じない。
He's always so stiff and doesn't get jokes.
Literally 'hard' or 'stiff', can describe a formal or rigid personality.
Means formal or ceremonious, emphasizing adherence to form.
形式張った挨拶は抜きにしましょう。
Let's skip the stiff formalities.
That person is too stiff, hard to talk to.