Ever seen tears well up and roll down one after another?
Or crumbs falling from bread as you take a bite?
That’s when the Japanese onomatopoeia “Poro Poro” comes in — a sound and image of little things dropping, bit by bit.
Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!
What is “Poro Poro” (ぽろぽろ)?
“Poro Poro” is a Japanese onomatopoeia that describes something small falling continuously in little pieces.
It’s used in two common ways:
- Tears or drops falling one after another.
- Small objects or crumbs breaking off and falling.
It gives a sense of delicateness, lightness, and sometimes sadness.
Pronunciation
po-ro po-ro
(Say it lightly, with a soft rhythm — like small drops falling one by one.)
Categories
Condition / Texture
What Does “Poro Poro” Look Like?
It looks like breadcrumbs scattering on the table.
Like cherry blossoms drifting down slowly.
Like tears streaming gently down cheeks.
How Do You Say It?
Say it gently, almost like you’re letting something slip away:
Poro… poro…
Like beads dropping from a string:
Poro poro…
Examples in Daily Life
Example 1: Tears falling
Her eyes filled,
and tears fell one after another —
poro poro…
Example 2: Crumbs dropping
He bit into the cookie,
and little crumbs scattered to the floor —
poro poro…
Cultural Note
In English, we might say:
“Dropping little by little.”
“Tears rolling down.”
“Crumbs falling apart.”
But in Japanese, poro poro creates a vivid sound-and-feel image, often carrying an emotional tone — like sadness, fragility, or something quietly breaking down.
Watch & Feel the “Poro Poro” World!
Feel the “poro poro” — gentle drops, little falls.
The cow is dropping bits of food from its mouth. Take a good look!
Try Using It!
When tears roll down silently…
When crumbs fall as you eat…
When petals drift down from a tree…
Say it softly:
Poro poro〜
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