{"id":4048,"date":"2025-12-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=4048"},"modified":"2026-03-29T18:03:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T09:03:41","slug":"what-is-pota-pota-the-japanese-sound-of-soft-repeating-drops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?p=4048","title":{"rendered":"What Is \u201cPota Pota\u201d? The Japanese Sound of Soft, Repeating Drops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever heard the soft sound of water dripping from a faucet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not splashing, not pouring \u2014 just\u2026 drip, drip, drip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s what \u201c<strong>Pota Pota<\/strong>\u201d (<strong>\u307d\u305f\u307d\u305f<\/strong>) expresses \u2014 a gentle, rhythmic, liquid drip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s listen to the sound together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u307d\u305f\u307d\u305f.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is \u201cPota Pota\u201d (\u307d\u305f\u307d\u305f)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPota Pota\u201d is the Japanese onomatopoeia for soft and slow dripping \u2014 of water, soup, rain, or even sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s used for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drops falling one by one<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Something soaking and dripping slowly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gentle, natural rhythms of falling liquid<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike a dramatic splash or gushing stream, this is slow, steady, and peaceful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pronunciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>poh-tah poh-tah<br>(Soft, round, and slow like falling water droplets)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Motion \/ Sound<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does \u201cPota Pota\u201d Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like rain dripping from leaves after a storm.<br>Or miso soup gently falling from a ladle.<br>Or even sweat falling from your chin on a hot day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"265\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapota_t.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4060\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Say It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Say it softly:<br>Pota\u2026 pota\u2026<br>Like the rhythm of slow raindrops or quiet kitchen sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/001_\u305a\u3093\u3060\u3082\u3093\uff08\u30ce\u30fc\u30de\u30eb\uff09_\u307d\u305f\u307d\u305f.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example in Daily Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 1: Leaky faucet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The kitchen was quiet \u2014<br>except for the faucet:<br><strong>pota pota\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"379\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapota_1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapota_1.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapota_1-253x300.png 253w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example 2: Rain on the windowsill<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>She sat by the window,<br>watching rain drip from the roof \u2014<br>pota pota\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapora_2-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapora_2-1.png 320w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapora_2-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/potapora_2-1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In English, this could be:<br>\u201c<strong>Drip drip<\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<strong>plop plop<\/strong>,\u201d or \u201c<strong>dribble<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But \u201c<strong>Pota Pota<\/strong>\u201d is <em>softer<\/em> \u2014 it brings out the rhythm and feel of nature or quiet kitchens.<br>It\u2019s used in poetry, anime, and even children\u2019s songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch &amp; Feel the \u201cPota Pota\u201d World!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feel the \u201cPota Pota\u201d \u2014 Water Dripping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:60%; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DOWNaLbuZB8\"\n     target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n     aria-label=\"Watch this video on YouTube\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/DOWNaLbuZB8\/hqdefault.jpg\"\n         alt=\"Watch on YouTube\"\n         style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:10px;\">\n    <div style=\"position:absolute; top:50%; left:50%; transform:translate(-50%,-50%);\n                font-size:32px; color:white; background:rgba(0,0,0,0.6);\n                padding:8px 12px; border-radius:50%;\">\n      \u25b6\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n\n  <div style=\"margin-top:8px; font-weight:600;\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DOWNaLbuZB8\"\n       target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n       style=\"color:#78e2c8; text-decoration:none;\">\n      \u25b6 Watch on YouTube\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Try Using It!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When miso soup drips from a spoon\u2026<br>When rain begins lightly falling\u2026<br>When sweat falls slowly from your forehead\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Say it gently:<br><strong>Pota pota\u301c<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4919\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-fullWide pc-py-60 sp-py-40 alignfull\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7\"><div class=\"swell-block-fullWide__inner l-article\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Sound-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=35\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_sound_enter___.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for sound-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"4926\">\n<div class=\"swell-block-capbox cap_box is-style-intext\"><div class=\"cap_box_ttl\"><span>More Motion-based Onomatopoeia:<\/span><\/div><div class=\"cap_box_content\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/?cat=36\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mint_background-x300_motion_enter.png\"\n       alt=\"illustration for motion-based category\"\n       class=\"puni-top-image\"\n       style=\"border-radius: 15px;\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-button is-style-btn_normal\"><a href=\"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\" class=\"swell-block-button__link\"><span>Home<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever heard the soft sound of water dripping from a faucet? Not splashing, not pouring \u2014 just\u2026 drip, drip, drip. That\u2019s what \u201cPota Pota\u201d (\u307d\u305f\u307d\u305f) expresses \u2014 a gentle, rhythmic, liquid drip. Let\u2019s listen to the sound together. What is \u201cPota Pota\u201d (\u307d\u305f\u307d\u305f)? \u201cPota Pota\u201d is the Japanese onomatopoeia for soft and slow [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4064,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-_motion-based","category-_sound-based"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4048"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4048\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7681,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4048\/revisions\/7681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/punipunidictionary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}