粘液(ねんえき)

ねんえき
noun
mucus; slime; viscous fluid
science
1. mucus; slime; viscous fluid
A thick, slippery liquid secreted by living organisms, or any viscous, gel-like substance.
カタツムリが粘液(ねんえき)を出(だ)す。
Snails secrete mucus.
鼻(はな)の粘液(ねんえき)はウイルスの侵入(しんにゅう)を防(ふせ)ぐ役割(やくわり)がある。
Nasal mucus plays a role in preventing viruses from entering.
なめくじが通(とお)った後(あと)には光(ひか)る粘液(ねんえき)の跡(あと)が残(のこ)っていた。
After the slug passed, a shiny trail of slime remained.

Composed of 粘(ねん) (sticky, viscous) + 液(えき) (liquid, fluid). Used in both biological/medical contexts (bodily mucus) and general descriptions of slimy substances produced by organisms like snails and slugs.

Common collocations

  • 粘液(ねんえき)を分泌(ぶんぴつ)する — secrete mucus
  • 粘液(ねんえき)質(しつ) — mucous, slimy (quality)
  • 粘液(ねんえき)膜(まく) — mucous membrane
  • 鼻(はな)の粘液(ねんえき) — nasal mucus

Similar words

  • 鼻水(はなみず) — runny nose, nasal discharge; the everyday word for nose mucus, while 粘液(ねんえき) is more technical
  • 唾液(だえき) — saliva; another bodily fluid, but watery rather than viscous
  • ねばねば — sticky, slimy (onomatopoeia); describes the texture of 粘液(ねんえき) in casual speech

Related Words

Compare: 鼻水(はなみず) (runny nose, nasal discharge)
Compare: 唾液(だえき) (saliva)
Related: 粘膜(ねんまく) (mucous membrane)
Related: 粘(ねば)る (to persist)
Compare: ねばねば (sticky, slimy)
general
Added 2026.4.18 22:18 · Revised 2026.10.2 9:21
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