Entry
ぼちゃん
bochan
The sound of a solid object dropping into water or a deep hole.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Mimics the sound of an object plopping or splashing into water, or dropping into a cavity. 'Bochan' sounds heavier than 'pochan', while 'botton' is specifically used for objects dropping down a deep hole, like a vault toilet.
- dropping into water (splash)
- falling into a hole (plop)
Sense Map
Splashing into water
The sound of a solid object splashing into a liquid like a pond or a bath.
池にぼちゃんと落ちる
Plopping into a hole
The sound of something dropping down to the bottom of a deep cavity.
ぼっとんと便所に落ちる
Usage Note
How to Use
ぼちゃんと + verb
Describes the action of falling or plopping into water.
ぼちゃんという + noun
Describes the splashing sound itself.
ぼっとん + noun
Often used as a prefix for certain nouns, famously 'botton benjo' (vault toilet).
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぼちゃんと落ちる
to fall with a splash
ぽちゃんと音がする
to make a light splash sound
ぼちゃんという音
a splashing sound
ぼっとん便所
vault toilet / drop toilet
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dropping an object into a pond | neutral | Use 'bochan' or 'pochan' depending on the object's size and the splash's intensity. |
| Dropping into a toilet | negative | 'Botton' strongly evokes the imagery of a 'botton benjo', a traditional Japanese non-flush vault toilet. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どぶん どぶん / similar | Used for massive, heavy objects or people splashing into water. | ドブン is much heavier and more massive than ぼちゃん. | 川にドブンと飛び込む |
ざぶん ざぶん / similar | Used for large splashes of water, like waves crashing. | ザブン focuses on the movement of a large volume of water rather than a specific object dropping. | 波がザブンと打ち寄せる |
ぴちゃん ぴちゃん / similar | Used for tiny water drops, like a dripping tap or a light puddle splash. | ぴちゃん is very light and doesn't involve a solid object sinking. | 水がぴちゃんと跳ねる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using 'botton' for something falling onto a table or flat floor.
'Botton' is strictly for deep holes or pits. Use 'goton' or 'doton' for flat surfaces.
Assuming 'pochan' is appropriate for a human diving into a pool.
Use 'zabun' or 'dobun' for humans; 'pochan' is too light, like a small stone.
Examples
Examples
携帯電話がぼちゃんと湯船に落ちた。
けいたいでんわがぼちゃんとゆぶねにおちた。
The mobile phone fell into the bathtub with a splash (bochan).
VisualUses 'bochan' because a mobile phone is heavy enough to make a solid splash.
小石を投げると、池でぽちゃんと音がした。
こいしをなげると、いけでぽちゃんとおとがした。
When I threw the pebble, it made a light plop (pochan) in the pond.
Visual'Pochan' is used for small, light objects like pebbles.
カエルがぼちゃんと水に飛び込んだ。
カエルがぼちゃんとみずにとびこんだ。
A frog jumped into the water with a splash (bochan).
VisualFits a medium-sized animal jumping into the water.
財布を誤ってぼっとんと穴に落としてしまった。
さいふをあやまってぼっとんとあなにおとしてしまった。
I accidentally dropped my wallet with a plop (botton) into the hole.
Visual'Botton' emphasizes the object falling vertically into a deep space.
しずくがぽちゃんぽちゃんと水たまりに落ちている。
しずくがぽちゃんぽちゃんとみずたまりにおちている。
Drops of water are repeatedly splashing (pochan pochan) into the puddle.
VisualThe repetition shows the continuous, rhythmic sound of water dripping.
Similar Words
ザブン
zabun
Used for large splashes of water, like waves crashing.
ぴちゃん
pichan
Used for tiny water drops, like a dripping tap.
Questions
What is the difference between ぼちゃん (bochan) and ぽちゃん (pochan)?
'Bochan' is for heavier objects making a deeper sound, while 'pochan' is for lighter, smaller objects.
When should I use ぼっとん (botton)?
Use 'botton' when an object falls into a deep vertical space or cavity, like a well or an old-fashioned drop toilet.
Can I use this word for a person falling into water?
You can, but for an adult human, 'dobun' or 'zabun' is usually more natural due to their weight.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1011820
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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