タピオカ

たぴおか
noun
tapioca; bubble tea
1. tapioca; tapioca pearls
Starch balls made from cassava root, used in drinks and desserts.
タピオカがもちもちしている。
The tapioca pearls are chewy.
タピオカは芋(いも)のでんぷんから作(つく)られる。
Tapioca is made from potato starch.
黒(くろ)いタピオカと白(しろ)いタピオカがある。
There are black tapioca and white tapioca.
2. bubble tea
A drink containing tapioca pearls, typically milk tea.
タピオカミルクティーを飲(の)む。
To drink bubble milk tea.
タピオカブームが到来(とうらい)した。
A bubble tea boom arrived.
友達(ともだち)と一緒(いっしょ)にタピオカを買(か)いに行(い)った。
I went with friends to buy bubble tea.

タピオカ refers to tapioca pearls or bubble tea drinks containing them. From Portuguese/Spanish 'tapioca.'

MEANINGS:
1. Tapioca pearls (the chewy balls made from cassava starch)
2. Bubble tea (by extension, especially in casual speech)

POPULAR DRINKS:

  • タピオカミルクティー: bubble milk tea
  • タピオカドリンク: tapioca drink
  • 黒糖(こくとう)タピオカ: brown sugar tapioca

TEXTURE WORDS:

  • もちもち: chewy, bouncy
  • 弾力(だんりょく)がある: has elasticity

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan experienced a major タピオカブーム (bubble tea boom) around 2018-2019, with long queues at specialty shops. The word タピる (to drink/get bubble tea) was coined as slang.

RELATED:

  • ボバ: boba (alternate term from English)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:17 · Revised 2026.3.9 12:03
05500/05604_tapioka