Translation guide
The English word 'suck' has several distinct meanings: to draw in liquid or air with the mouth, to be of poor quality (slang), to be unpleasant or disappointing (slang), and to pull something into a vacuum or current. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each.
Expressing the physical action of sucking, such as drinking through a straw, sucking a sweet, or sucking in air.
The most common verb for 'suck', used for drawing in air, liquid, or smoke. Can be used for drinking through a straw, sucking on a candy, or inhaling.
ストローでジュースを吸う。
I suck juice through a straw.
彼はタバコを深く吸った。
He took a deep drag on his cigarette.
Means to suck on something by holding it in the mouth and licking or moving the tongue, like a child sucking a thumb or a candy. More specific than 吸う.
赤ちゃんが指をしゃぶっている。
The baby is sucking its thumb.
Literally 'suck in', used for inhaling deeply or drawing something into the mouth or a machine. Emphasizes the inward motion.
新鮮な空気を吸い込んだ。
I sucked in the fresh air.
Means 'to lick', but can be used for sucking on a candy or ice cream in a licking manner. Not a direct translation of 'suck'.
Only use when the action involves licking rather than true suction.
アイスクリームをなめる。
I lick (or suck on) the ice cream.
Expressing that something is bad, low-quality, or unsatisfactory, as in 'This movie sucks.'
An adjective meaning 'terrible' or 'awful'. Commonly used to say something sucks in a general sense.
この映画、ひどいね。
This movie sucks, doesn't it?
Literally 'the lowest', used to mean something is the worst or sucks. Stronger than ひどい.
Means 'no good' or 'useless'. Can be used to say something sucks, especially in terms of functionality or quality.
このパソコン、ダメだ。
This computer sucks.
A vulgar slang term literally meaning 'shit'. Used like 'sucks' but very crude. Only appropriate among close friends or in rough speech.
Vulgar; avoid in polite conversation.
Expressing that a situation is unfortunate, disappointing, or makes one feel bad, as in 'It sucks that you're sick.'
Means 'unfortunate' or 'too bad'. A polite and common way to express that something sucks in a disappointing sense.
病気なんだって？残念だね。
I heard you're sick? That sucks.
Means 'tough' or 'painful'. Used when a situation is emotionally or physically hard, similar to 'this sucks'.
Means 'the worst'. Can be used to describe a sucky situation, similar to 最低 but often for circumstances.
Describing a force that draws objects in, like a vacuum cleaner or a whirlpool.
Used for machines or natural forces sucking things in. Same verb as for inhaling, but applied to objects.
掃除機がゴミを吸い込む。
The vacuum cleaner sucks up the dust.
Means to suck out or absorb. Often used for extracting liquid or moisture.
The English slang 'suck' does not translate directly to 吸う. Using 吸う to mean 'is bad' will cause confusion. Use adjectives like ひどい or 最低 instead.
この映画は吸う。
This movie sucks. (Incorrect)
吸う is general sucking (straw, air, cigarette). しゃぶる implies holding in the mouth and licking/sucking like a child with a thumb or candy. Do not use しゃぶる for drinking through a straw.
この掃除機はよく吸い込む。
This vacuum cleaner sucks well.
仕事がつらい。
My job sucks.
あのレストラン、最低だった。
That restaurant sucked.
This game sucks, man.
Working overtime every day sucks.
雨でピクニックが中止？最悪。
The picnic is canceled because of rain? That sucks.
この機械が水分を吸い取る。
This machine sucks out the moisture.