つるつる

つ

る

つ

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

つるつるする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Describes a surface that is smooth, glossy, and often slippery to the touch. Can be used for skin, hair, polished objects, or food textures.

na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Emphasizes slipperiness, often with a negative connotation of being greasy or dangerously slick, such as icy roads or oily surfaces.

Mimetic adverb describing the sound or action of slurping noodles. Often used with と and verbs like 食べる or すする.

〈物もの〉がつるつるだsomething is smooth/glossy to the touch
赤あかちゃんの肌はだはつるつるだ。
A baby's skin is smooth and glossy.
〈場ば所しょ〉がつるつるに凍こおるa place freezes over slick and slippery
道みちが凍こおってつるつるになっている。
The road has frozen over and is slick and slippery.
つるつる(と)〈動どう詞し〉to slurp noodles with a slurping sound
彼かれはうどんをつるつるとすすった。
He slurped up the udon noodles.
〈物もの〉をつるつるにするto make something smooth and glossy
お風ふ呂ろ上あがりに肌はだをつるつるにする。
I make my skin smooth and glossy after a bath.

すべすべN1sense 1
すべすべ describes a smooth, soft, pleasant texture (like skin) without the glossy, slippery nuance that つるつる can carry.
ぬるぬるN1sense 2
ぬるぬる emphasizes a slimy, moist slipperiness, while つるつる can describe a dry, polished smoothness as well as slickness.

ざらざらN1sense 1
ざらざら describes a rough, gritty surface, the opposite of the smooth, glossy feel of つるつる.
ボコボコ
つるつる describes a smooth, even surface, the opposite of ボコボコ's lumpy, dented texture.
がさがさN1
がさがさ describes a dry, rough surface, whereas つるつる describes a smooth, slippery one.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but the reduplicated form つるつる likely imitates a smooth, sliding sensation or sound.