Entry
ポツポツ
potsupotsu
A word describing light drops falling, scattered small spots, or things progressing little by little.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ポツポツ represents things occurring in small, intermittent amounts or scattered dots. It is most commonly used to describe the first light drops of rain, the appearance of small spots or pimples, or a process moving forward slowly and gradually, bit by bit.
- light rain drops
- scattered spots
- gradual progress
- intermittent occurrence
Sense Map
Light rain drops
Describes rain or water falling lightly in small, distinct drops.
雨がポツポツ降る
Scattered spots
Refers to small, dotted marks or pimples appearing sparsely on a surface.
顔にポツポツができる
Gradual progress
Doing something little by little, step by step, or at a slow, intermittent pace.
仕事をポツポツ進める
Scattered occurrence
Things happening or people appearing intermittently here and there.
客がポツポツ来る
Usage Note
How to Use
ポツポツと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action happens intermittently or lightly (e.g., raining, speaking).
ポツポツ + verb
The adverbial form without 'と', functioning similarly to describe gradual or scattered actions.
ポツポツが + verb (e.g., できる)
Used as a noun referring to the spots or dots themselves (e.g., spots appearing).
How to Use
Common Phrases
雨がポツポツと降ってきた
it started raining lightly
赤いポツポツができる
red spots appear
ポツポツ語る
to speak slowly / bit by bit
ポツポツ売れる
to sell sporadically / little by little
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weather (rain) | neutral | Describes the onset of rain or a very light sprinkle, before you necessarily need an umbrella. |
| Physical appearance | neutral | Describes small, distinct dots, often used for rashes, pimples, or dotted patterns. |
| Work or actions | neutral | Implies working slowly but steadily, without rushing. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ざーざー ざーざー / opposite | Use for heavy, continuous downpours of rain. | Unlike ポツポツ, which is light and intermittent, ザーザー is loud, heavy, and continuous. | 雨がザーザー降る |
ぼちぼち ぼちぼち / similar | Use when suggesting it is time to start an action or leave slowly. | ぼちぼち focuses on timing and gradual transition ('let's get going'), while ポツポツ describes the literal intermittent manner of an action. | ぼちぼち帰ろう |
ぱらぱら ぱらぱら / similar | Use for scattered, dry sounds, like flipping pages or scattered rain. | ぱらぱら implies scattering over a wider area or a flipping motion, whereas ポツポツ emphasizes individual distinct drops or spots. | ぱらぱらと降る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for heavy, continuous rain.
ポツポツ is only for light, distinct drops. For heavy rain, use ザーザー.
Using it to mean smooth and fast progress.
ポツポツ implies slow, intermittent, or gradual progress. For smooth progress, use すらすら.
Examples
Examples
雨がポツポツと降ってきたので、傘を開いた。
雨(あめ)がポツポツと降(ふ)ってきたので、傘(かさ)を開(ひら)いた。
It started raining lightly, so I opened my umbrella.
LiteralDescribes the distinct, separate drops of light rain just beginning to fall.
腕に赤いポツポツができているのに気づいた。
腕(うで)に赤(あか)いポツポツができているのに気(き)づいた。
I noticed red spots had appeared on my arm.
VisualUsed as a noun referring to physical, scattered dots or a rash.
溜まっていた仕事をポツポツと片付けている。
溜(た)まっていた仕事(しごと)をポツポツと片付(かたづ)けている。
I am clearing the piled-up work bit by bit.
FigurativeShows gradual, steady progress without rushing.
彼は昔の出来事をポツポツと語り始めた。
彼(かれ)は昔(むかし)の出来事(できごと)をポツポツと語(かた)り始(はじ)めた。
He began to talk about past events little by little.
FigurativeEmphasizes speaking with pauses, letting out information slowly.
開演時間が近づき、客がポツポツと集まってきた。
開演(かいえん)時間(じかん)が近(ちか)づき、客(きゃく)がポツポツと集(あつ)まってきた。
As the start time approached, guests gathered here and there.
FigurativeIndicates that people are arriving continuously but in small, scattered numbers.
Similar Words
ぼつぼつ
botsubotsu
Indicates starting an action gradually or that it is time to do something soon, and also describes scattered spots or pimples.
ぼちぼち
bochibochi
Slowly but steadily, or soon at a leisurely pace. Focuses on gradual transitions in time, such as 'it is about time to start', rather than the physical intermittent action.
ポツリポツリ
potsuripotsuri
Happening sparsely, little by little, or intermittently, like scattered raindrops.
ザーザー
zaazaa
The continuous sound of heavy rain pouring down, forcefully rushing water, or white noise from an electronic device. Used for heavy, continuous downpours, unlike the light drops of potsupotsu.
ぱらぱら
parapara
Describes light scattered drops of rain, the quick sound of flipping through pages, or a loose, non-sticky texture like perfect fried rice. Focuses on scattered falling or dry sounds, often covering a wider area than potsupotsu.
Questions
Can I use ポツポツ for snow?
Generally no. ポツポツ focuses on distinct liquid drops or visible dots. For snow, words like ちらちら (fluttering lightly) or しんしん (falling silently) are typically used.
Is ポツポツ a noun or an adverb?
It can be both. It acts as a noun when referring to physical spots and as an adverb when describing how something falls or progresses.
How is ポツポツ different from ぼつぼつ?
Both can mean little by little or refer to spots, but ぼつぼつ often implies slightly larger spots or is used to signal that it is time to start doing something.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1012010
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- Needs review
- Active language
- English
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