Translation guide
A guide to expressing the various meanings of 'pop' in Japanese, from sounds and quick actions to music, family, and popular culture.
Describe a short, sharp sound like a small explosion, a cork popping, or a bubble bursting.
The most common onomatopoeia for a light popping sound. Used for corks, small explosions, or things bursting.
The cork popped out.
風船がポンと割れた。
The balloon popped.
A sharper, louder pop than ポン. Often used for gunshots or loud bursting sounds.
風船がパンと大きな音を立てて割れた。
The balloon popped with a loud bang.
A very small, soft pop, like a bubble or a pimple. The small 'tsu' indicates a short, cut-off sound.
シャボン玉がプチッと消えた。
The soap bubble popped.
Express going somewhere quickly or briefly, often informally.
Literally 'go a little', this is the most natural way to say you're popping out or going somewhere quickly.
コンビニにちょっと行ってくる。
I'm going to pop to the convenience store.
Literally 'show one's face', used for popping into a place or event briefly.
パーティーにちょっと顔を出すね。
I'll pop into the party for a bit.
To drop by or stop off at a place. Slightly more formal than ちょっと行く.
Refer to pop music.
The direct loanword for pop music. Often combined with other words.
彼女はポップスターだ。
She is a pop star.
J-POPが好きです。
I like J-pop.
Refers to pop music as a genre, often used in charts or categories.
Call or refer to one's father casually.
The most common casual word for 'dad', similar to 'pop' or 'daddy'. Used by children and adults in family settings.
パパ、これ見て！
Pop, look at this!
The standard polite word for 'father'. Can be used to address one's own father or refer to someone else's. Less casual than パパ.
Describe something that is trendy, widely liked, or part of popular culture.
The most common way to say something is popular. Literally 'has popularity'.
このカフェは若者に人気がある。
This cafe is popular with young people.
Means 'is trendy' or 'is in fashion'. Used for current fads.
その曲、今すごく流行ってるよね。
That song is really pop right now.
A loanword used as a na-adjective meaning 'pop' in style, like pop art or pop design. Not used for general popularity.
ポップなデザインのTシャツ。
A T-shirt with a pop design.
Refer to a carbonated beverage, especially in regional American English.
The general term for carbonated drinks. Formal and widely understood.
炭酸飲料をください。
I'll have a pop, please.
Loanword for 'soda', commonly used in Japan for flavored carbonated drinks.
クリームソーダが飲みたい。
I want to drink a cream soda (pop).
Specifically refers to a clear, lemon-lime type soda, similar to Sprite or 7-Up. Not a generic term for all pop.
Describe eyes that open wide in surprise or appear to bulge out.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'eyes pop out', used for extreme surprise.
値段を見て目が飛び出た。
My eyes popped out when I saw the price.
Literally 'make one's eyes round', meaning to open one's eyes wide in surprise.
彼は驚いて目を丸くした。
His eyes popped open in surprise.
Place something somewhere quickly or casually.
Means to put something in quickly or lightly. 'さっと' adds the sense of a swift action.
パンをトースターにさっと入れた。
I popped the bread in the toaster.
Uses the onomatopoeia ポン to describe placing something with a light, popping motion.
カバンをポンと床に置いた。
He popped his bag on the floor.
English uses 'pop' as a versatile verb for quick actions, but Japanese does not have a single equivalent. Use specific verbs like 行く (go), 入れる (put in), or onomatopoeia like ポン to convey the nuance.
ちょっとコンビニに行ってくる。
I'll pop to the convenience store.
ポップ is a loanword used for pop culture, music, and art styles. It does not mean 'popular' in the sense of being well-liked. Use 人気がある for general popularity.
この歌手はとても人気がある。
This singer is very popular.
この曲はポップだね。
This song is pop, isn't it?
帰りにスーパーに立ち寄った。
I popped into the supermarket on my way home.
この曲はポップスです。
This song is pop.
お父さん、ただいま。
Pop, I'm home.
サイダーを買った。
I bought a pop (clear soda).