Entry
たらたら
taratara
Describes a continuous thin stream of liquid, incessant complaining, or sluggish, dawdling movement.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes three main situations: a thin, continuous trickle of liquid (like sweat or blood), someone incessantly complaining or making excuses in a bothersome way, and physical movements or actions that are excessively slow, dawdling, and unmotivated.
- Trickling liquid
- Incessant complaining
- Sluggish movement
Sense Map
Trickling Liquid
Used for liquids like sweat or blood flowing continuously in a thin, unbroken stream.
汗がたらたら流れる
Incessant Complaining
Used when someone continuously voices complaints, excuses, or negative remarks at length.
文句をたらたら言う
Sluggish Action
Used to describe moving, working, or acting in a slow, dawdling, and noticeably unmotivated manner.
たらたら仕事をする
Usage Note
How to Use
〜がたらたら（と）流れる
Describes a liquid continuously trickling or streaming down.
〜をたらたら（と）流す
文句をたらたら（と）言う
Describes the action of continuously complaining or saying negative things without end.
たらたらする
A verb phrase meaning to dawdle, be sluggish, or waste time without purpose.
How to Use
Common Phrases
汗がたらたら流れる
sweat trickling down continuously
文句をたらたら言う
to complain incessantly
不平をたらたらこぼす
to grumble endlessly
たらたら仕事をする
to work sluggishly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Liquids (Sweat, Blood) | neutral | Describes a continuous, thin trickle. Often implies a bit of a mess but not a massive, overwhelming flow. |
| Speaking | negative | Always implies annoyance at the speaker for continuously complaining, making excuses, or being negative. |
| Action / Movement | negative | Implies frustration with someone's slow, unmotivated, or time-wasting behavior. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
だらだら だらだら / similar | Use for a heavier, messier flow of liquid, or for a more drawn-out, heavy sense of laziness and aimlessness. | Taratara implies a thinner, lighter trickle of liquid, and a slightly less heavy feeling of sluggishness compared to daradara. | 血がだらだら流れる |
ぽたぽた ぽたぽた / similar | Use for distinct, individual drops falling one by one (drip-drop). | Taratara implies a continuous trickling stream rather than separate, individual heavy drops. | 水がポタポタ落ちる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a heavy waterfall, flood, or massive volume of water.
Taratara is strictly for thin, continuous streams or trickles.
Using it to describe someone speaking a foreign language fluently and confidently.
When referring to speech, taratara strictly carries the negative meaning of complaining or making excuses. Use 'perapera' for language fluency.
Examples
Examples
夏の暑さで、汗がたらたらと流れてきた。
なつのあつさで、あせがたらたらとながれてきた。
Due to the summer heat, sweat came trickling down.
VisualDescribes sweat flowing down in a continuous, thin stream.
彼は自分のミスなのに、言い訳をたらたらと言っている。
かれはじぶんのみすなのに、いいわけをたらたらといっている。
Even though it's his own mistake, he keeps making excuses incessantly.
FigurativeUsed for the annoying habit of dragging out spoken words (excuses).
いつまでもたらたら食べていないで、早くしなさい。
いつまでもたらたらたべていないで、はやくしなさい。
Don't keep dawdling over your food, hurry up.
LiteralA scolding for someone moving slowly and wasting time.
怪我をした腕から、血がたらたら流れている。
けがをしたうでから、ちがたらたらながれている。
Blood is trickling continuously from the injured arm.
VisualFocuses on the liquid flowing in a thin but unstopping stream.
彼女は今の仕事に対して、文句をたらたらこぼした。
かのじょはいまのしごとにたいして、もんくをたらたらこぼした。
She kept grumbling continuously about her current job.
FigurativeUsing 'kobosu' (to spill/grumble) reinforces the image of drawn-out verbal complaints.
Similar Words
だらだら
daradara
だらだら describes something continuing endlessly without tension, such as chilling lazily at home, a meeting dragging on, or sweat dripping continuously. Heavier, thicker, or longer compared to taratara.
ポタポタ
potapota
Describes the sound or appearance of liquid continuously falling in distinct drops. Focuses on distinct, individual drops falling one by one.
ペラペラ
perapera
Speaking a foreign language fluently, or referring to something that is very thin and flimsy.
ちんたら
chintara
ちんたら means doing something very slowly, dawdling, and wasting time.
Questions
What is the difference between taratara and daradara?
Both describe flowing liquids or sluggishness. 'Taratara' is for thinner trickles or incessant complaining. 'Daradara' describes a thicker, messier flow of liquid, or a more drawn-out, heavy sense of laziness.
Can taratara be used for speaking a foreign language fluently?
No. When referring to speech, 'taratara' only has the negative meaning of complaining or making excuses. Use 'perapera' for speaking fluently.
Is 'taratara suru' a common phrase?
Yes, it is commonly used to scold someone who is dawdling, acting sluggishly, or wasting time, often heard as a command like 'たらたらしないで' (stop dawdling).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1007280
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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