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.
このじゃがいもはほくほくしていて美味しい。
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.
この豆は少し粉っぽい。
These beans are a bit starchy.
Onomatopoeic word for a dry, crumbly, and slightly unpleasant texture, like a very dry baked potato. Often negative.
この焼き芋はもさもさしていて喉が渇く。
This baked sweet potato is starchy and makes me thirsty.
Referring to foods that are high in starch, like potatoes, rice, or corn.
Standard phrase meaning 'high in starch'. Used in nutritional contexts.
でんぷん質の多い食品はエネルギー源になる。
Starchy foods are a source of energy.
Adjectival form meaning 'starchy' or 'containing starch'. Often used in food science.
じゃがいもはでんぷん質の野菜です。
Potatoes are a starchy vegetable.
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.
彼の挨拶はいつも堅苦しい。
His greetings are always starchy.
Describes behavior or events that are formal and adhere strictly to etiquette, often implying stiffness.
格式張ったパーティーは苦手だ。
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.
かしこまった言い方をしないでください。
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.
糊のきいたシャツを着るのは久しぶりだ。
It's been a while since I wore a starchy shirt.