ぬるぬる

ぬ

る

ぬ

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru', na-adjective, noun

slimy; slippery; greasy; clammy

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a wet, slippery, or oily texture that feels unpleasant or sticky to the touch. Often used with する or とした.

この海かい藻そうはぬるぬるしている。
This seaweed is slimy.

汗あせで手てがぬるぬるになった。

My hands became clammy with sweat.

2

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

smoothly (of CGI, video streaming, etc.)

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes smooth, fluid motion in digital media, such as animation or video playback, without stuttering or lag.

このゲームは60fpsでぬるぬる動うごく。
This game runs smoothly at 60fps.

Written forms

ぬるぬるUsage50%
Hiragana spelling; the most common written form for this mimetic word.
ヌルヌルUsage50%
Katakana spelling; often used for emphasis or in informal contexts, especially for the slimy sense.

Similar words

つるつる
つるつる describes a smooth, slippery surface that is often pleasant or clean (e.g., smooth skin, polished floor), while ぬるぬる implies a wet, slimy, or greasy texture that is usually unpleasant.
べとべと
べとべと emphasizes stickiness and tackiness (e.g., sticky candy, sweaty skin), whereas ぬるぬる focuses on slipperiness and a wet, oily feel.

Etymology

A mimetic word (擬態語) derived from the sound or sensation of something wet and slippery. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is part of a large family of reduplicated mimetic adverbs in Japanese.