Have you ever touched something so soft that it gently bounced back?
Or noticed someone’s cheeks wobbling adorably as they laughed?
That soft, bouncy feeling in Japanese is expressed as:
“Poyo Poyo” (ぽよぽよ)
Let’s hear how it sounds!
What is “Poyo Poyo” (ぽよぽよ)?
“Poyo Poyo” describes:
- Something soft and bouncy
- Gentle, jiggly movement
- A pleasantly plump appearance
It describes something that looks soft enough to wobble gently with even the slightest movement.
Pronunciation
poh-yoh poh-yoh
(Say it lightly, like something softly bouncing.)
Category
Texture
What Does “Poyo Poyo” Look Like?
It looks like a baby’s soft cheeks.
A fluffy plush toy that gently jiggles.
A round tummy wobbling as someone laughs.
How Do You Say It?
Say it with a soft, cheerful voice:
Poyo poyo…
Like something gently bouncing with every little movement.
Example in Daily Life
Example: A baby’s cheeks
The baby burst into laughter, and those adorable little cheeks bounced —
poyo poyo…
Everyone couldn’t help but smile.
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “Jiggly”
- “Soft and bouncy”
- “Plump”
But “poyo poyo” expresses more than simply being soft.
It conveys the gentle movement, pleasant softness, and lovable appearance of something that lightly bounces.
Japanese speakers often use it for babies, soft toys, cheeks, round tummies, and other things that look irresistibly soft.
It suggests:
Soft fullness
Gentle bouncing
Adorable squishiness
Watch & Feel the “Poyo Poyo” World!
Feel the “Poyo Poyo” — Bouncy Food
Try Using It!
When something looks soft enough to bounce…
When a baby’s cheeks jiggle with laughter…
When something is simply too cute not to squeeze…
Say it affectionately:
Poyo poyo…
Sometimes softness is something you can almost feel just by looking.
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