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すべすべ Japanese meaning | Kotomora

すべすべ

す

べ

す

べ

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

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

smooth; sleek; silky

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Describes a surface that is smooth and pleasant to the touch, often used for skin, hair, or polished objects. Mimetic word.

このローションを使つかうと肌はだがすべすべになる。
Using this lotion makes your skin smooth.

彼かの女じょの髪かみはすべすべしていて、触さわりたくなる。

Her hair is so silky that you want to touch it.

Written forms

すべすべUsage78%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 滑々 and 滑滑 are rare.
スベスベUsage21%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.
滑すべ々すべUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
滑すべ滑すべ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Kanji

滑slippery, slide, slip

Similar words

つるつる
つるつる emphasizes a slippery, glossy smoothness (like a bald head or polished floor), while すべすべ focuses on a soft, velvety smoothness (like skin or fabric).
なめらか
なめらか is a more general term for smoothness, often used for movement, texture, or progress, while すべすべ is specifically tactile and often implies a pleasant, soft smoothness.

Etymology

Mimetic word derived from the reduplication of the root すべ, which is associated with smoothness or sliding. The exact origin is uncertain.