Have you ever heard the soft sound of water dripping from a faucet?
Not splashing, not pouring — just… drip, drip, drip.
That’s what “Pota Pota” (ぽたぽた) expresses — a gentle, rhythmic, liquid drip.
Let’s listen to the sound together.
What is “Pota Pota” (ぽたぽた)?
“Pota Pota” is the Japanese onomatopoeia for soft and slow dripping — of water, soup, rain, or even sweat.
It’s used for:
- Drops falling one by one
- Something soaking and dripping slowly
- Gentle, natural rhythms of falling liquid
Unlike a dramatic splash or gushing stream, this is slow, steady, and peaceful.
Pronunciation
poh-tah poh-tah
(Soft, round, and slow like falling water droplets)
Categories
Motion / Sound
What Does “Pota Pota” Look Like?
It looks like rain dripping from leaves after a storm.
Or miso soup gently falling from a ladle.
Or even sweat falling from your chin on a hot day.
How Do You Say It?
Say it softly:
Pota… pota…
Like the rhythm of slow raindrops or quiet kitchen sounds.
Example in Daily Life
Example 1: Leaky faucet
The kitchen was quiet —
except for the faucet:
pota pota…
Example 2: Rain on the windowsill
She sat by the window,
watching rain drip from the roof —
pota pota…
Cultural Note
In English, this could be:
“Drip drip,” “plop plop,” or “dribble.”
But “Pota Pota” is softer — it brings out the rhythm and feel of nature or quiet kitchens.
It’s used in poetry, anime, and even children’s songs.
Watch & Feel the “Pota Pota” World!
Feel the “Pota Pota” — Water Dripping
Try Using It!
When miso soup drips from a spoon…
When rain begins lightly falling…
When sweat falls slowly from your forehead…
Say it gently:
Pota pota〜
Comments