Entry
ぼたり
botari
The state or sound of a heavy, thick, or viscous liquid falling with a dull splat.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word conveys the heavy dripping of large amounts of liquid (like copious sweat or large drops of water) or the slow oozing and dropping of viscous substances (like blood, mud, or thick paint).
- Heavy dripping of a large liquid drop
- Viscous oozing and dropping
Sense Map
Heavy Liquid Dropping
Describes a large, heavy drop of fluid—such as sweat, blood, or collected rainwater—falling due to gravity and hitting a surface.
汗がぼたりと落ちる
Thick Substance Splatting
Used for viscous materials that are thicker than water, like mud, batter, or thick ink, falling slowly with a dull splat.
泥がぼったりと落ちる
Usage Note
How to Use
ぼたりと + Verb (usually 落ちる, 垂れる)
Typically used as an adverb with the particle と (to), directly modifying a downward motion verb like 落ちる (to fall) or 垂れる (to drip/hang down).
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぼたりと落ちる
to fall with a heavy splat / drip heavily
ぼたりと垂れる
to drip or ooze down heavily
汗がぼたりと落ちる
sweat drips heavily
血がぼたりと滴る
blood drips heavily
泥がぼったりと落ちる
mud falls with a heavy splat
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Describing sweat or blood | Neutral | It is highly evocative for storytelling, creating a strong visual image of physical exertion or injury. |
| The ぼったり variant | Neutral | The slight pause in 'bottari' mirrors the slow detachment of a very thick liquid like mud or syrup. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぽつり ぽつり / similar | Use ポツリ for an isolated, light, and small drop of liquid, such as the very first drop of rain. | ポツリ lacks the heavy, viscous, or high-volume feeling of ぼたり. | 雨がポツリと降る |
ぽたぽた ぽたぽた / similar | Use ぽたぽた for a continuous, repetitive dripping, such as a leaky faucet. | ぼたり is usually a single heavy drop, or drops that fall very slowly due to viscosity. | 水がぽたぽた垂れる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ぼたり for light drizzle or small raindrops.
Use ポツリ (potsuri) or ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu). ぼたり is strictly for heavy, large, or viscous drops.
Using ぼたり for a heavy solid object falling, like a rock.
Use どすん (dosun) or どたり (dotari) for solid objects. ぼたり is only for liquids and semi-liquids.
Examples
Examples
額から汗がぼたりと落ちた。
ひたい から あせ が ぼたり と おちた。
Sweat dropped heavily from my forehead.
LiteralShows that the sweat droplet is large and heavy.
指先から血がぼたりと滴っている。
ゆびさき から ち が ぼたり と したたって いる。
Blood is dripping heavily from the fingertip.
LiteralDescribes the thick, viscous nature of dripping blood.
天井から雨水がぼたりと落ちてきた。
てんじょう から あまみず が ぼたり と おちて きた。
A heavy drop of rainwater fell from the ceiling.
LiteralShows a water drop that accumulated enough volume to be heavy before falling.
スコップから泥がぼったりと落ちた。
スコップ から どろ が ぼったり と おちた。
The mud fell from the shovel with a heavy splat.
VisualThe 'bottari' form is used here because mud is very thick and viscous.
ペンからインクがぼたりと紙に垂れた。
ペン から インク が ぼたり と かみ に たれた。
Ink dripped heavily from the pen onto the paper.
VisualDescribes a blob of ink falling and staining the paper.
Similar Words
ポツリ
potsuri
Describes a single, isolated point or event, such as a solitary drop of liquid falling, standing completely alone, or muttering just a few words. A light, isolated drop, contrasting with the heavy volume of ぼたり.
どたり
dotari
Describes the heavy, dull impact or sound of a massive object or a person collapsing helplessly to the ground.
Questions
What is the difference between ぼたり (botari) and ぼったり (bottari)?
ぼったり is a more emphatic version. The double consonant makes the liquid seem thicker, heavier, and slower to drop.
Can I use ぼたり to describe a book falling off a shelf?
No, ぼたり is reserved for liquids or semi-liquid substances. For solid objects, use どすん (dosun) or ばたり (batari).
Is ぼたり used for continuous rain?
No, it focuses on the heavy nature of individual drops. For a steady downpour, use ざあざあ (zaazaa).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2405440
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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