こびりつく

こ

び

り

つ

く

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

stick to; cling to; adhere to

usually written using kana alone

Describes something that sticks stubbornly or is hard to remove, often with a nuance of being stuck on a surface or lingering persistently.

ガムが靴くつの裏うらにこびりついて取とれない。
Gum is stuck to the sole of my shoe and won't come off.

鍋なべに焦こげがこびりついている。

Burnt food is stuck to the pot.

Written forms

こびり付つくUsage5%
Kanji spelling using 付く; usually written in kana.
こびりつくUsage95%
Kana spelling is the usual written form.
こびり着つくUsage<1%
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; not recommended for learners.

Kanji

付adhere, attach, refer to
着don, arrive, wear

Similar words

くっつく
くっつく is a more general and colloquial word for sticking or clinging, while こびりつく emphasizes stubborn, hard-to-remove adhesion.
張はり付つく
張り付く implies sticking flat against a surface, often intentionally or tightly, whereas こびりつく suggests an unwanted, persistent residue.

Etymology

The word is a compound of the prefix こびり (related to こびる, meaning to be covered or stained) and 付く (to stick). The exact derivation of こびり is uncertain, but it conveys a sense of something adhering stubbornly.