Translation guide
The English word "stick" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a long thin piece of wood, the action of attaching or poking, and a few other uses.
The learner wants to refer to a stick as a physical object, like a branch, a walking stick, or a piece of wood.
General word for a stick, rod, or pole. Can be used for many types of sticks.
He is holding a stick.
その犬は棒をくわえて走った。
The dog ran with a stick in its mouth.
Specifically a branch or twig, often still attached to a tree or recently broken off.
子供が枝を拾った。
The child picked up a stick.
Loanword from English, used in specific contexts like hockey sticks, makeup sticks, or USB sticks.
ホッケーのスティックを買った。
I bought a hockey stick.
The learner wants to express the action of making something adhere, like sticking a poster to a wall or a stamp to an envelope.
To stick or paste flat things like paper, stamps, or tape. Transitive verb.
壁にポスターを貼った。
I stuck a poster on the wall.
封筒に切手を貼ってください。
Please stick a stamp on the envelope.
To attach or stick things together, often with glue or by pressing. Casual. Transitive.
General verb for attaching or affixing. Can be used for stickers, magnets, etc.
Intransitive verb meaning to stick to or cling to a surface. Often used for things that adhere on their own.
The learner wants to express the action of piercing or inserting something sharp, like sticking a needle into fabric or a fork into food.
To stab, pierce, or stick a sharp object into something. Transitive.
指に針を刺してしまった。
I accidentally stuck a needle into my finger.
肉にフォークを刺した。
I stuck a fork into the meat.
To thrust or stick something into something forcefully. More emphatic than 刺す.
The learner wants to describe something that is jammed, caught, or immobile, like a stuck door or a stuck zipper.
To be caught, snagged, or stuck. Intransitive. Used for objects getting caught on something.
ドアが引っかかって開かない。
The door is stuck and won't open.
ファスナーが引っかかった。
The zipper got stuck.
To be blocked or clogged. Used for pipes, printers, or things getting stuck in a narrow space.
To become immobile or stop working. A general phrase for when something gets stuck.
車が泥にはまって動かなくなった。
The car got stuck in the mud.
The learner wants to express persistence, loyalty, or adherence to a plan, person, or idea.
Pattern meaning 'to continue with something'. Use with a noun or verb stem.
その計画を続けるべきだ。
You should stick to the plan.
To be loyal or faithful to something. Formal.
彼は自分の信念に忠実だった。
He stuck to his principles.
Literally 'stick and not leave', used for people who cling to someone. Casual.
その子は母親にくっついて離れない。
The child sticks to his mother.
The learner wants to describe something sticking out, like a nail or a tongue.
To stick out, protrude. Intransitive.
釘が壁から突き出ている。
A nail is sticking out of the wall.
To put out or stick out (tongue, hand, etc.). Transitive.
彼は舌を出した。
He stuck out his tongue.
The English phrase 'stick to' (as in 'stick to the plan') is not directly translated with 貼る or 刺す. Use 続ける or other context-appropriate verbs.
貼る is for flat things like paper or tape. くっつける is more general for attaching objects together, often with glue.
壊れたおもちゃを接着剤でくっつけた。
I stuck the broken toy together with glue.
I stuck a magnet on the fridge.
Gum stuck to my clothes.
彼は地面に旗を突き刺した。
He stuck the flag into the ground.
The paper got stuck in the printer.