Translation guide
A sharp, often venomous, organ used by some animals for defense or attack. Also used figuratively for a sharp remark or a painful surprise.
The sharp body part of an insect or animal that can inject venom.
General word for 'needle' or 'stinger'. Used for bees, scorpions, etc.
蜂の針が刺さった。
A bee's stinger stung me.
A scorpion's stinger has venom.
Specifically a 'venomous stinger'. Emphasizes the poison aspect.
This jellyfish's stingers are dangerous.
A cutting or hurtful comment.
Literally 'biting words'. A common way to describe a verbal stinger.
His stinging words pierced my heart.
A 'poison tongue', meaning harsh or caustic remarks. Often used for a person's style.
Literally 'words with thorns'. A metaphorical expression for a barbed comment.
He threw a stinging remark.
An unexpected, often unpleasant, shock or a clever twist in a story.
A 'plot twist' or 'sudden reversal'. Often used for stories with a surprise ending that stings.
There was a stinger at the end of the movie.
The 'punchline' or 'twist' of a joke or story. Can be a stinger if it's sharp or ironic.
An undercover operation to catch criminals.
Standard term for a sting operation. Literally 'decoy investigation'.
The police caught the criminal in a sting operation.
A type of surface-to-air missile.
The specific weapon system, usually referred to by its English name in katakana.
Stinger missiles were deployed.
The loanword スティンガー is mainly used for the missile or in specific entertainment contexts (e.g., wrestling moves). For a bee's stinger, always use 針 or 毒針.
彼女の毒舌には慣れている。
I'm used to her stinging remarks.
The stinger of that story really hits.