ぽたぽた

ぽたぽた

adverb, onomatopoeia

dripping

descriptive onomatopoeia

1. dripping; drip by drip

The sound or manner of liquid dripping slowly in individual drops.

蛇口(じゃぐち)から水(みず)がぽたぽた落(お)ちている。

Water is dripping from the faucet.

汗(あせ)がぽたぽた垂(た)れる。

Sweat is dripping down.

雨(あめ)がぽたぽたと屋根(やね)に当(あ)たる。

Rain is dripping onto the roof.

Etymology

ぽたぽた represents slow, individual drops falling—not a stream or flow. The soft 「ぽ」 sound suggests liquid drops.

Common collocations

ぽたぽた落(お)ちる: to drip
ぽたぽた垂(た)れる: to drip down
ぽたぽたと滴(したた)る: to trickle

Similar words

ぽつぽつ: sparse drops (rain beginning)
ぼたぼた: larger drops falling
たらたら: thin liquid dripping continuously
ざあざあ: heavy rain pouring

Related Words

Compare: ぽつぽつ (sparse drops)

Compare: ざあざあ (heavy pouring rain)

Compare: だらだら (sluggishly, lazily, dripping)

Compare: ぼたぼた (in large drops)

Compare: たらたら (in a thin trickle)

Related: ちゃぷちゃぷ (splish-splashing)

Related Articles

Common Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words

general

Added 2026.1.16 18:41 · Revised 2026.10.7 15:25

05500/05715_potapota