Translation guide
The English word "stick" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a long thin piece of wood, the action of attaching or poking, and a few other uses.
The learner wants to refer to a stick as a physical object, like a branch, a walking stick, or a piece of wood.
General word for a stick, rod, or pole. Can be used for many types of sticks.
He is holding a stick.
The dog ran with a stick in its mouth.
Specifically a branch or twig, often still attached to a tree or recently broken off.
The child picked up a stick.
Loanword from English, used in specific contexts like hockey sticks, makeup sticks, or USB sticks.
I bought a hockey stick.
The learner wants to express the action of making something adhere, like sticking a poster to a wall or a stamp to an envelope.
To stick or paste flat things like paper, stamps, or tape. Transitive verb.
I stuck a poster on the wall.
Please stick a stamp on the envelope.
To attach or stick things together, often with glue or by pressing. Casual. Transitive.
General verb for attaching or affixing. Can be used for stickers, magnets, etc.
Intransitive verb meaning to stick to or cling to a surface. Often used for things that adhere on their own.
The learner wants to express the action of piercing or inserting something sharp, like sticking a needle into fabric or a fork into food.
The learner wants to describe something that is jammed, caught, or immobile, like a stuck door or a stuck zipper.
To be caught, snagged, or stuck. Intransitive. Used for objects getting caught on something.
The door is stuck and won't open.
To be blocked or clogged. Used for pipes, printers, or things getting stuck in a narrow space.
To become immobile or stop working. A general phrase for when something gets stuck.
The learner wants to express persistence, loyalty, or adherence to a plan, person, or idea.
The learner wants to describe something sticking out, like a nail or a tongue.
The English phrase 'stick to' (as in 'stick to the plan') is not directly translated with 貼る or 刺す. Use 続ける or other context-appropriate verbs.
貼る is for flat things like paper or tape. くっつける is more general for attaching objects together, often with glue.
I stuck the broken toy together with glue.
冷蔵庫にマグネットを付けた。
I stuck a magnet on the fridge.
服にガムが張り付いた。
Gum stuck to my clothes.
He stuck the flag into the ground.
The zipper got stuck.
プリンターに紙が詰まった。
The paper got stuck in the printer.
The car got stuck in the mud.
He stuck to his principles.
The child sticks to his mother.
He stuck out his tongue.