Translation guide
The act of lightly tapping or stroking with the hand, often to show affection, comfort, or to smooth something down.
To gently tap someone on the head, shoulder, or back to show affection, praise, or comfort.
Literally 'to stroke the head'. This is the most common way to describe patting someone on the head affectionately. Note that なでる implies a gentle stroking motion rather than a tapping motion.
お母さんが子供の頭をなでた。
The mother patted her child on the head.
Literally 'to tap the shoulder with a light sound'. This describes a friendly pat on the shoulder, often to encourage or comfort someone. The onomatopoeia ポン conveys a light, gentle tap.
彼は私の肩をポンと叩いて「頑張れ」と言った。
He patted me on the shoulder and said, 'Do your best.'
Used for patting someone on the back, often to comfort a baby or to help someone burp. トントン is an onomatopoeia for a light, rhythmic tapping.
赤ちゃんの背中をトントンしてげっぷを出させた。
I patted the baby on the back to make him burp.
To pat something down with the hand to make it smooth, flat, or tidy, such as hair, clothes, or a surface.
Literally 'to press down with the hand'. This is a general way to describe patting something down to flatten or smooth it.
寝ぐせを手で押さえた。
I patted down my bed head with my hand.
Literally 'to pat and tidy up'. The onomatopoeia ポンポン suggests light, repeated pats. Often used for adjusting clothes or cushions.
スカートのしわをポンポンと叩いて整えた。
I patted out the wrinkles in my skirt.
To lightly tap someone to get their attention or to signal something non-verbally.
Literally 'to tap lightly'. This is a straightforward way to describe patting someone to get their attention.
彼は私の腕を軽く叩いて、外を見るように言った。
He patted my arm and told me to look outside.
Uses the onomatopoeia トントン for a light knocking or tapping. Often used for tapping on a door or someone's shoulder.
後ろからトントンと肩を叩かれた。
Someone patted me on the shoulder from behind.
To pat one's own body or clothing, often to check for items or to dust oneself off.
Literally 'to frisk/search one's pockets'. This implies patting pockets to find something. It's more about searching than a simple pat, but it's the natural expression.
鍵がないかポケットを探った。
I patted my pockets looking for my keys.
Literally 'to dust off one's body'. Used when patting off dust or dirt from clothes.
砂を落とすためにズボンをはたいた。
I patted my pants to get the sand off.
なでる means to stroke or pet gently, often with affection. 叩く means to hit or tap, and can range from a light pat to a hard strike. For a gentle, affectionate pat, なでる is more appropriate. For a tapping motion, use 叩く with an onomatopoeia like ポン or トントン to soften it.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'pat' in all contexts. Using 叩く without a softening onomatopoeia can sound like 'hit'. Always consider the nuance: affectionate stroking (なでる), light tapping (ポンと叩く), or pressing/smoothing (押さえる).