Translation guide
A sticker is a piece of paper or plastic with a picture or writing on one side and adhesive on the other. In Japanese, the most common word is シール, but other terms exist for specific types like labels or decals.
A small piece of paper or plastic with adhesive backing, often decorative or for labeling.
The most common and general word for sticker. Used for decorative stickers, reward stickers, and simple adhesive labels.
ノートにシールを貼った。
I put a sticker on my notebook.
このシールはかわいいね。
This sticker is cute, isn't it?
Often implies a larger, more durable sticker, like a bumper sticker or logo sticker. Can also refer to sticker-type labels.
車にステッカーを貼った。
I put a sticker on my car.
Literally 'pasted paper', refers to a paper sticker or poster stuck onto a surface, often for notices or signs. Not for small decorative stickers.
壁に貼り紙がしてある。
There is a sticker/notice posted on the wall.
A sticker used for labeling items, such as price tags, address labels, or name tags.
Refers to a label, often with printed information. Can be a sticker or a tag.
瓶にラベルを貼ってください。
Please put a label on the bottle.
Also used for functional adhesive labels, especially small ones like price stickers.
Specifically a sticky note, not a permanent sticker. Often used for temporary notes.
A sticker that is applied by transferring a design from a backing, often used on models or windows.
Specifically a decal, often used in modeling (plastic models) or for window stickers.
プラモデルにデカールを貼る。
Apply decals to the plastic model.
Literally 'transfer sticker', a more descriptive term for decals.
転写シールを使ってデザインを写した。
I transferred the design using a transfer sticker.
シール is the most common word for any kind of sticker, especially small decorative ones. ステッカー often implies a larger, more durable sticker, like those on cars or laptops. In many contexts they are interchangeable, but シール is safer for general use.
子供がシールを集めている。
The child collects stickers.
パソコンにステッカーを貼った。
I put a sticker on my laptop.
The English word 'sticker' is sometimes translated as 貼り紙, but this refers to a posted notice or paper sign, not a small adhesive sticker. Use シール or ステッカー for typical stickers.
かわいいシールを買った。
I bought some cute stickers.
りんごにシールが貼ってある。
There's a sticker on the apple.
彼はバンパーステッカーを集めている。
He collects bumper stickers.
The price sticker is still on it.
I wrote a note on a sticky note.