Entry
てらてら
teratera
Teratera describes a surface that smoothly reflects light, typically due to a coating of oil, sweat, or a highly polished, slick texture.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word captures the visual shine of something greasy or glossy. It is commonly used for a sweaty or oily face, a layer of grease on soup, a shiny bald head, or well-worn leather that has become slick with use.
- Shining from oil, grease, or sweat
- Glossy, slick surfaces reflecting light
Sense Map
Oil & Sweat
Describes skin (especially faces) shining with sweat or natural oils, as well as food with a greasy or oily appearance.
汗でてらてら光る
Slick Surfaces
Describes very smooth surfaces that catch the light, such as a bald head, worn-in leather, or polished objects that look somewhat oily.
てらてらした頭
Usage Note
How to Use
てらてらする
Functions as a verb to describe the state of being shiny or greasy.
てらてらしている
The progressive form showing the ongoing state of a surface gleaming with oil or sweat.
てらてらした + noun
Acts as a modifier for a noun, such as a face, head, or material.
てらてらと + verb
Used as an adverb modifying verbs like to shine (光る) or to gleam (輝く).
How to Use
Common Phrases
汗でてらてら光る
shining with sweat
てらてらした頭
shiny bald head
油でてらてらする
greasy and shining with oil
てらてらと輝く
to gleam slickly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sweaty or oily faces | slightly negative | Often used to describe a face shining with sebum or sweat in the summer, prompting the desire to wash up. |
| Greasy food broths | neutral | Simply describes the visual of a thick layer of oil on top of dishes like ramen. |
| Bald heads | neutral | A common visual descriptor for a hairless head catching the light. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
てかてか てかてか / similar | Used for a similar shine from oil, sweat, or cheap synthetic materials. Can feel slightly more intense or garish. | Teratera suggests a thicker, slicker coating (like heavy oil or worn leather), while tekateka can be a sharper, sometimes cheaper reflection. | テカテカの顔 |
ぴかぴか ぴかぴか / contrast | Used for things that are sparkling clean, polished, or brand new. | Pikapika is a clean, positive sparkle, whereas teratera is an oily or greasy gleam that is not necessarily clean. | ピカピカの靴 |
つるつる つるつる / similar | Used for perfectly smooth, frictionless textures like ice or baby skin. | Tsurutsuru focuses on how smooth something feels to the touch, while teratera focuses on how oily or slick it looks. | つるつるの肌 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe a shiny new car or a clean mirror.
Use pikapika for clean, new objects. Teratera implies grease, sweat, or a slick worn-in texture.
Thinking it just means wet from water.
Teratera is better suited for thick sweat, grease, or oil rather than plain water (use bishobisho for being soaked).
Examples
Examples
真夏の太陽の下で、彼の顔は汗でてらてらと光っていた。
まなつの たいようの したで、 かれの かおは あせで てらてらと ひかっていた。
Under the midsummer sun, his face was shining with sweat.
VisualDescribes a face shining due to sweat and natural oils.
そのラーメンのスープは油でてらてらしている。
その ラーメンの スープは あぶらで てらてらしている。
That ramen's broth is gleaming with oil.
VisualDescribes the reflective layer of fat or oil on the surface of the soup.
おじさんのてらてらした頭がテレビに映った。
おじさんの てらてらした あたまが テレビに うつった。
The uncle's shiny bald head appeared on TV.
VisualA very common usage for describing a hairless head catching the light.
使い込まれた革の財布が、てらてらした光沢を放っている。
つかいこまれた かわの さいふが、 てらてらした こうたくを はなっている。
The well-used leather wallet is giving off a slick gleam.
VisualShows how an object handled frequently becomes smooth and shiny from the oils of human hands.
鼻の頭がてらてらするから、顔を洗いたい。
はなの あたまが てらてらするから、 かおを あらいたい。
The tip of my nose is oily, so I want to wash my face.
VisualDescribes the unwanted shine caused by natural oil production on the skin.
Similar Words
テカテカ
tekateka
Tekateka describes a continuous, solid shine on a smooth surface, often caused by oil, grease, or heavy polishing. Similar, used for oily or sweaty surfaces, but can sound more glaring or cheap.
つるつる
tsurutsuru
Describes a surface that is exceptionally smooth, often to the point of being slick, shiny, or slippery. Related to a smooth, frictionless texture; often appears alongside teratera for worn items.
ピカピカ
pikapika
ピカピカ describes something that is shiny, spotlessly clean, or brand new. Contrast context: shiny because it is clean or new, not oily.
Questions
Is teratera the same as pikapika?
No. Pikapika is used for the clean shine of new or freshly polished things. Teratera is used for things that are shiny because of oil, sweat, or because they have been handled so much they became slick.
Can I say my floor is teratera after mopping it?
Only if you applied a thick wax or oil that makes it look slightly greasy. If it is just sparkling clean, use pikapika.
Does teratera have a bad meaning?
It depends on the context. If applied to rich food, it is neutral. However, if used to describe someone's face, it usually means their face is very oily or sweaty, which is not an ideal look.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2454250
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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