よだれ

よだれ
noun
drool, saliva
1. drool, saliva, dribble
Saliva that drips or flows from the mouth, especially during sleep or when seeing delicious food. Common in everyday speech.
よだれが()た。
I drooled.
(あか)ちゃんがよだれを()らしている。
The baby is drooling.
おいしそうな料理(りょうり)()てよだれが()た。
I drooled looking at the delicious-looking food.

よだれ refers to saliva that drips from the mouth, whether involuntarily (during sleep, in babies) or in response to appetizing food.

KANJI:
Can be written as (よだれ), but hiragana is far more common.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • よだれが()る: to drool
  • よだれを()らす: to drool, to dribble
  • よだれ()け: bib (for babies)
  • よだれが()るほどおいしい: so delicious it makes you drool

FIGURATIVE USE:
Often used figuratively to express strong desire or craving. よだれが()る can mean 'to be mouth-watering' when talking about desirable food or even coveted objects.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (つば)/唾液(だえき): saliva (medical/neutral; not specifically drool)
  • (よだれ)()らす is more vivid and informal than 唾液(だえき)()