水玉(みずたま)

みずたま
noun
polka dot; drop of water
appearancenature
1. polka dot; polka dot pattern
A pattern of regularly spaced round dots, commonly used for fabric and design. The most frequent usage in modern Japanese.
水玉(みずたま)模様(もよう)のスカート。
A polka dot skirt.
赤(あか)と白(しろ)の水玉(みずたま)のワンピースを買(か)った。
I bought a red and white polka dot dress.
彼女(かのじょ)は水玉(みずたま)模様(もよう)が好(す)きで、ハンカチも傘(かさ)も水玉(みずたま)だ。
She loves polka dots — both her handkerchief and umbrella are polka-dotted.
2. drop of water; water droplet
A small, round drop of water, resembling a bead or ball.
葉(は)の上(うえ)に水玉(みずたま)が光(ひか)っていた。
Water droplets were glistening on the leaves.
蜘蛛(くも)の巣(す)に水玉(みずたま)がついていた。
There were water droplets on the spider web.
朝露(あさつゆ)の水玉(みずたま)が花(はな)びらの上(うえ)で丸(まる)く輝(かがや)いている。
Round morning dew droplets are shining on the petals.

Usage

In modern Japanese, 水玉(みずたま) most commonly refers to polka dot patterns. The full form 水玉(みずたま)模様(もよう) (polka dot pattern) is often shortened to just 水玉(みずたま) when the context is clear. The literal meaning of water droplets is less common but still used poetically.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: まだら (mottled)
Compare: ストライプ (stripe)
general
Added 2026.3.11 9:59 · Revised 2026.9.2 21:55
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