Translation guide
Describes food with a high starch content, often giving a dry, floury, or thick texture. Also used figuratively for stiff, formal behavior.
Describing food like potatoes, rice, or beans that is dry, crumbly, or floury due to high starch content.
Describes a dry, crumbly, and fluffy texture, especially for potatoes, sweet potatoes, and chestnuts. Positive connotation.
These potatoes are starchy and delicious.
Literally 'powdery'. Used for food that feels dry and floury in the mouth, like overcooked potatoes or certain beans. Can be slightly negative.
These beans are a bit starchy.
Onomatopoeic word for a dry, crumbly, and slightly unpleasant texture, like a very dry baked potato. Often negative.
This baked sweet potato is starchy and makes me thirsty.
Referring to foods that are high in starch, like potatoes, rice, or corn.
Describing a person or manner that is overly formal, rigid, or lacking warmth, like a starched shirt.
Means stiff, formal, or ceremonious. Used for atmospheres, people, or speech that feel overly rigid and uncomfortable.
His greetings are always starchy.
Describes behavior or events that are formal and adhere strictly to etiquette, often implying stiffness.
I'm not good at starchy parties.
Means very formal, stiff, or prim. Often used for speech or attitude that is excessively polite and distant.
Please don't use such starchy language.
Describing clothes or fabric that have been treated with starch to make them stiff.
Literally 'starched'. Used for shirts, collars, or other fabrics that are stiffened with starch.
It's been a while since I wore a starchy shirt.