Translation guide
The English word 'drip' can refer to liquid falling in drops, the sound of dripping, or a medical intravenous drip. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
蛇口から水がポタポタ落ちている。
Water is dripping from the faucet.
汗が額から滴った。
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
彼は点滴を受けている。
He is on an IV drip.
Describing liquid that falls drop by drop, or the action of dripping.
Verb meaning 'to drip', often used for liquids like water, sweat, or rain. Can be used intransitively.
汗が額から滴った。
Sweat dripped from my forehead.
雨水が屋根から滴っている。
Rainwater is dripping from the roof.
Verb meaning 'to hang down' or 'to drip'. Often used for thicker liquids or when something hangs and drips.
ろうそくのろうが垂れている。
The candle wax is dripping.
Onomatopoeic phrase for the sound or action of dripping, often used for water dripping slowly.
蛇口から水がポタポタ落ちている。
Water is dripping from the faucet.
Technical term meaning 'to drip' or 'instill', used in scientific or medical contexts.
溶液を一滴ずつ滴下する。
Drip the solution drop by drop.
Describing the sound made by liquid dripping.
Onomatopoeia for the sound of dripping water. Can be used as an adverb or noun.
ポタポタという音が聞こえる。
I can hear a dripping sound.
Onomatopoeia for light, intermittent dripping or tapping sounds.
Referring to a medical IV drip.
Standard term for an intravenous drip. Can refer to the equipment or the procedure.
患者に点滴を打つ。
Give the patient an IV drip.
彼は入院して点滴を受けている。
He is hospitalized and receiving an IV drip.
Phrase meaning 'to have an IV drip' or 'to administer an IV drip'.
脱水症状で点滴をしてもらった。
I got an IV drip for dehydration.
滴る (shitataru) is used for clear liquids falling in drops, like water or sweat. 垂れる (tareru) is used for thicker substances or when something hangs down and drips, like wax or syrup. 垂れる can also mean 'to hang' without dripping.
The loanword ドリップ (dorippu) is mainly used for drip coffee or drip irrigation, not for general dripping. For natural dripping, use native Japanese words.
ドリップコーヒー
Drip coffee
雨がポツポツ降り始めた。
Rain started dripping down.