When you hear ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu), think about things happening or appearing in a scattered or gentle way.
Imagine a light rain starting, with drops falling sparsely. That’s ぽつぽつ.
It can also describe something happening little by little, like a few comments appearing one after another.
You might also use it for things that appear in small, isolated patches, such as a few pimples or spots on a surface.
When you're learning Japanese at a B1 level, you're starting to understand more nuanced adverbs. ぽつぽつ is a great example of an onomatopoeic adverb that describes things happening intermittently or in small, discrete amounts.
Think of it like this: if rain is falling ぽつぽつ, it's not a downpour, but rather scattered drops. This adverb can also describe things appearing one by one or progressing slowly but steadily.
It's very useful for describing natural phenomena or actions that aren't continuous but happen with short breaks in between. Mastering such adverbs will significantly improve your descriptive abilities in Japanese.
When you hear ぽつぽつ, think of something happening in small, isolated instances. Imagine individual raindrops hitting a surface one by one, or a few scattered items in a larger space. It can also describe a gradual, steady progression of something, like gaining understanding little by little.
It's about noticing individual occurrences rather than a continuous stream. For instance, if you see a few people starting to arrive, you might say they are coming ぽつぽつ. Or if it starts to rain lightly, with individual drops, that's ぽつぽつ雨 (potsu potsu ame).
ぽつぽつ en 30 segundos
- light rain
- gradual progress
- scattered
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
Let's break down the Japanese word ぽつぽつ (potsu potsu). It's an adverb, and it's quite versatile. You'll hear it in a few different situations, but they all share a common thread: indicating something happening in a scattered, gradual, or intermittent way.
- Definition 1: Sparsely / In drops (rain)
- This is probably the most common way you'll encounter ぽつぽつ. It describes things appearing or happening in small, isolated amounts, or something falling in individual drops. Think of it like a light drizzle, where raindrops are still distinct, or a few scattered items.
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Translation hint: The rain started falling sparsely/in drops.
庭に花がぽつぽつ咲いている。
Translation hint: Flowers are blooming sparsely/here and there in the garden.
- Definition 2: Little by little / Gradually
- ぽつぽつ can also describe a process that happens slowly, bit by bit, or intermittently over time. It suggests a lack of suddenness or intensity. Think of a conversation that starts slowly or a task you're chipping away at.
会話がぽつぽつ始まった。
Translation hint: The conversation started little by little/intermittently.
仕事がぽつぽつ片付いてきた。
Translation hint: The work is getting done little by little/gradually.
In both cases, there's a sense of individual occurrences rather than a continuous flow or a sudden burst. It’s about things being spread out, either physically or over time. It's often used for things that are relatively small in scale or happening without much intensity.
- It can describe visual phenomena: Like scattered objects or lights.
- It can describe auditory phenomena: Like intermittent sounds.
- It can describe feelings or thoughts: Like feelings that surface occasionally.
For example, if you see a few scattered houses in a rural area, you might describe them as ぽつぽつある (potsu potsu aru – there are a few scattered). Or if you're feeling a bit lonely from time to time, you might say 寂しさがぽつぽつこみ上げる (sabishisa ga potsu potsu komiageru – loneliness wells up little by little/occasionally).
Understanding these nuances will help you use ぽつぽつ naturally and accurately. It’s not just about a dictionary definition; it’s about grasping the underlying feeling of gradualness, sparseness, or intermittence that this word conveys.
§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news
You might think that a word like ぽつぽつ, which often describes something happening sparsely or in drops, wouldn't show up much in formal settings like work, school, or news. But surprisingly, it does. The key is understanding the nuance of 'little by little' or 'here and there' that it carries. It’s not always about rain; it can describe the gradual appearance of things, or a scattered distribution.
Let’s break down how ぽつぽつ is used in these contexts. We'll look at specific scenarios and examples to help you grasp its practical application beyond just weather descriptions.
§ In Business and Work Settings
In a business context, ぽつぽつ can describe the gradual progress of a project, the sporadic appearance of customers, or even the slow trickle of sales. It emphasizes a lack of a sudden, large influx, highlighting a more spread-out or intermittent activity.
Project Progress: When a project is moving slowly, or tasks are being completed one by one over time, ぽつぽつ can be used to convey this.
新しい機能の開発は、まだぽつぽつと進んでいます。
- Hint
- The development of the new feature is still progressing little by little.
Customer Flow/Sales: If customers are coming in slowly or sales are happening intermittently, this word fits.
今日は午前中、お客様がぽつぽつと来店されました。
- Hint
- Today in the morning, customers came to the store sporadically.
§ In Educational Settings and School
At school, ぽつぽつ can describe things like students gradually understanding a concept, or a few students asking questions here and there rather than a flood of inquiries. It's about the isolated or distributed nature of an event.
Understanding Concepts: When learning happens incrementally.
難しい文法規則をぽつぽつと理解し始めました。
- Hint
- I've started to understand the difficult grammar rules little by little.
Participation: When responses or questions are infrequent.
先生の質問に対して、生徒たちがぽつぽつと答えました。
- Hint
- To the teacher's questions, the students answered sparsely (one by one).
§ In News and Reports
News reports might use ぽつぽつ to describe scattered incidents, the slow emergence of new data, or the gradual return of something. It helps convey a sense of something not being widespread or instantaneous.
Reporting Incidents: When events are isolated rather than widespread.
その地域では、まだぽつぽつと小規模な抗議活動が続いています。
- Hint
- In that area, small-scale protests are still continuing sporadically.
Emergence of Information/Data: When information is revealed gradually.
新しい調査結果がぽつぽつと発表され始めました。
- Hint
- New research findings have started to be announced little by little.
As you can see, ぽつぽつ is a versatile word that goes beyond describing raindrops. Its core meaning of 'sparsely,' 'little by little,' or 'here and there' makes it applicable to a wide range of situations in work, school, and news, whenever you need to convey something happening in a scattered or gradual manner. Pay attention to context, and you'll find it appearing more often than you might expect.
§ Don't confuse it with other 'little by little' words
Japanese has several ways to say 'little by little' or 'gradually,' and choosing the right one depends on the context. ぽつぽつ specifically emphasizes a discontinuous, often sparse, or incremental action. It's not about a smooth, continuous progression.
- DEFINITION
- Other 'little by little' words:
徐々に (じょじょに): This means 'gradually' or 'steadily.' It implies a continuous and often smooth progression. Think of a plant growing taller day by day.
日本語が徐々にわかるようになってきた。
(I've gradually started to understand Japanese.)少しずつ (すこしずつ): This is a more general term for 'little by little.' It can sometimes be used interchangeably with ぽつぽつ, but ぽつぽつ adds the nuance of being sparse or in drops.
毎日少しずつ単語を覚えている。
(I'm learning vocabulary little by little every day.)だんだん: Similar to 徐々に, meaning 'gradually' or 'by degrees.' It often implies a noticeable change over time.
寒さがだんだん厳しくなってきた。
(The cold has gradually become more severe.)
§ Misusing it for continuous or smooth actions
A common error is using ぽつぽつ when the action or state is continuous or flows smoothly. Remember, ぽつぽつ is for things that appear, happen, or occur in an interrupted or non-uniform manner.
- WRONG
- The river flowed ぽつぽつ.
The river flows continuously. You wouldn't use ぽつぽつ here.
- RIGHT
- 雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
(Rain started falling sparsely / in drops.)
Here, the rain isn't a steady downpour; it's just starting, with drops falling individually.
§ Not understanding its emotional nuance
While not always present, ぽつぽつ can sometimes carry a slight nuance of something being a bit lonely, isolated, or small in number. For example, when talking about lights in a distant town, 'ぽつぽつと灯りがともる' (lights sparsely glowing) can evoke a sense of quiet or isolation.
- EXAMPLE
- お客さんがぽつぽつと店に入ってきた。
(Customers sparsely/one by one started coming into the shop.)
This implies not a steady stream of customers, but rather a few here and there, suggesting the shop might not be very busy.
How Formal Is It?
"その地域では、伝統的な家屋が散見されます。"
"雨がまばらに降っています。"
"最近、ぽつぽつと良いアイデアが浮かぶようになりました。"
"ちょうちょがちょびちょび飛んでいるね。"
"雨がパラパラ降ってきた。"
Dato curioso
Many Japanese adverbs describing appearance or manner are derived from onomatopoeia, making the language very vivid.
Guía de pronunciación
- pronouncing the 'u' after 'tsu' too strongly
- not giving the double 'tsu' enough emphasis
Nivel de dificultad
Simple kana.
Simple kana.
Pronunciation of double consonant 'pp' might need a little practice for English speakers.
Distinguishing from similar-sounding onomatopoeia might be tricky initially.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Can be used with verbs that describe gradual changes or occurrences.
雨がぽつぽつ降り始めた。 (The rain started falling little by little.)
Often used to describe things appearing or happening in a scattered or intermittent way.
顔にぽつぽつとニキビができた。 (Pimples appeared sporadically on my face.)
Can be combined with other adverbs to modify its meaning, e.g., 「ぽつぽつと少し」 (a little bit sparsely).
庭にぽつぽつと少し花が咲いていた。 (A few flowers bloomed sparsely in the garden.)
Frequently used to describe the sound or manner of raindrops.
窓に雨がぽつぽつと当たっている。 (Rain is hitting the window in drops.)
Can also describe something happening or appearing gradually over time.
少しずつ、ぽつぽつと新しいアイデアが浮かんだ。 (New ideas came to me little by little, sporadically.)
Ejemplos por nivel
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Rain started falling sparsely.
テーブルに水滴がぽつぽつとついている。
There are drops of water sparsely on the table.
畑に野菜がぽつぽつと生えている。
Vegetables are growing sparsely in the field.
顔にニキビがぽつぽつできた。
Acne appeared sparsely on my face.
部屋の電気がぽつぽつと消えた。
The lights in the room went out one by one.
最近、白髪がぽつぽつと目立つ。
Recently, gray hairs are sparsely noticeable.
庭に花がぽつぽつ咲いている。
Flowers are blooming sparsely in the garden.
彼はぽつぽつと話し始めた。
He started talking little by little.
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Rain started falling little by little.
庭に花がぽつぽつ咲いている。
Flowers are blooming sparsely in the garden.
彼の話はぽつぽつと途切れた。
His speech broke off intermittently (little by little).
テーブルに水滴がぽつぽつとついている。
Water drops are sparsely on the table.
壁にシミがぽつぽつとある。
There are sparse stains on the wall.
彼の髪に白髪がぽつぽつと見られる。
White hairs can be seen sparsely in his hair.
会議で意見がぽつぽつ出た。
Opinions came out little by little in the meeting.
病気が治って、食欲がぽつぽつ戻ってきた。
After recovering from illness, appetite returned little by little.
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Rain started falling sparsely.
ぽつぽつ used with 雨が降る (ame ga furu - rain falls).
机の上に水滴がぽつぽつ付いている。
Water drops are sparsely on the desk.
水滴がぽつぽつ付く (suiteki ga potsu-potsu tsuku - water drops are sparsely attached).
最近、白髪がぽつぽつ増えてきた。
Recently, gray hairs have been increasing little by little.
白髪がぽつぽつ増える (shiraga ga potsu-potsu fueru - gray hairs increase little by little).
壁にシミがぽつぽつある。
There are sparse stains on the wall.
シミがぽつぽつある (shimi ga potsu-potsu aru - there are sparse stains).
庭に花がぽつぽつ咲いている。
Flowers are blooming sparsely in the garden.
花がぽつぽつ咲く (hana ga potsu-potsu saku - flowers bloom sparsely).
彼の顔にニキビがぽつぽつできていた。
Acne had appeared sparsely on his face.
ニキビがぽつぽつできる (nikibi ga potsu-potsu dekiru - acne appears sparsely).
客がぽつぽつと店に入ってきた。
Customers entered the store sparsely, one by one.
客がぽつぽつと入る (kyaku ga potsu-potsu to hairu - customers enter sparsely).
アイデアがぽつぽつと浮かんだ。
Ideas came to mind little by little.
アイデアがぽつぽつと浮かぶ (aidea ga potsu-potsu to ukabu - ideas come to mind little by little).
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Rain started falling sparsely.
庭に花がぽつぽつ咲いている。
Flowers are blooming here and there in the garden.
彼の話はぽつぽつと途切れた。
His story broke off little by little.
壁にシミがぽつぽつとある。
There are sporadic stains on the wall.
客がぽつぽつと店に入ってきた。
Customers came into the store sparsely.
棚に本がぽつぽつと並んでいる。
Books are lined up sparsely on the shelf.
最近、白髪がぽつぽつ増えてきた。
Lately, gray hairs have increased little by little.
会議で意見がぽつぽつ出た。
Opinions came out sparsely in the meeting.
雨がぽつぽつと降り始めた。
Rain started falling sparsely.
肌にぽつぽつと赤い湿疹ができた。
Red rashes appeared little by little on my skin.
彼の話はぽつぽつと途切れた。
His story was interrupted little by little.
畑には野菜がぽつぽつと植えられている。
Vegetables are sparsely planted in the field.
最近、白髪がぽつぽつと目立つようになってきた。
Recently, gray hairs have started to stand out little by little.
客はぽつぽつと集まり始めた。
Customers started gathering little by little.
記憶がぽつぽつと蘇ってきた。
Memories came back little by little.
壁にぽつぽつとシミがある。
There are sparse stains on the wall.
最近はぽつぽつとしか雨が降らないので、庭の植物が枯れてきました。
These days, it only rains sparsely, so the garden plants have withered.
新しいカフェはまだお客さんがぽつぽつとしか入っていませんでしたが、雰囲気は良かったです。
The new cafe only had a few customers trickling in, but the atmosphere was nice.
試験勉強をぽつぽつと始めていますが、なかなか集中できません。
I've started studying for the exam little by little, but I can't seem to concentrate.
彼はぽつぽつと自分の過去について話し始めました。
He began to talk about his past in fits and starts.
古い時計の修理は、ぽつぽつと進めています。
I'm proceeding with the repair of the old clock little by little.
壁にぽつぽつとシミができているのを見つけました。
I found a few scattered stains on the wall.
週末のイベントには、ぽつぽつとしか人が集まりませんでした。
Only a few people gathered for the weekend event.
彼の話はぽつぽつと途切れがちで、意味が掴みにくかった。
His story was sporadic and difficult to grasp the meaning of.
Se confunde a menudo con
While '少しずつ' is a general term for gradualness, 'ぽつぽつ' is more specific to intermittent, scattered, or droplet-like occurrences.
'だんだん' implies a steady, continuous progression, whereas 'ぽつぽつ' suggests a more sporadic or individual occurrence.
Both describe sparseness, but 'まばら' is a more general term for a thin distribution, while 'ぽつぽつ' often highlights individual, distinct, and sometimes intermittent points.
Patrones gramaticales
Modismos y expresiones
"ぽつぽつ雨が降ってきた"
It started raining sparsely/in drops.
傘を持ってこなかったのに、ぽつぽつ雨が降ってきた。 (Even though I didn't bring an umbrella, it started raining in drops.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと話し始める"
To start speaking little by little/hesitantly.
緊張していたが、彼はぽつぽつと話し始めた。 (He was nervous, but he started speaking little by little.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと人が集まる"
People gathering sparsely/gradually.
イベント会場にぽつぽつと人が集まり始めた。 (People started gathering gradually at the event venue.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと質問が出る"
Questions coming out one by one/sparsely.
先生の説明の後、生徒からぽつぽつと質問が出た。 (After the teacher's explanation, questions came out one by one from the students.)
neutral"肌にぽつぽつができる"
To get sparse bumps/spots on the skin.
アレルギーで肌にぽつぽつができてしまった。 (I got sparse bumps on my skin due to an allergy.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと進む"
To proceed little by little/slowly.
プロジェクトは困難だが、ぽつぽつと進んでいる。 (The project is difficult, but it's proceeding little by little.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと灯りがともる"
Lights coming on sparsely/one by one.
夜になると、窓にぽつぽつと灯りがともり始めた。 (As night fell, lights started coming on sparsely in the windows.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと記憶が蘇る"
Memories coming back little by little.
昔のアルバムを見て、ぽつぽつと記憶が蘇ってきた。 (Looking at an old album, memories came back little by little.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと穴が開いている"
Having sparse holes.
古い服には、ぽつぽつと穴が開いている。 (The old clothes have sparse holes.)
neutral"ぽつぽつと意見を言う"
To express opinions sparsely/hesitantly.
会議では、皆がぽつぽつと意見を言った。 (In the meeting, everyone expressed their opinions sparsely.)
neutralFácil de confundir
Both 'ぽつぽつ' and '少しずつ' can mean 'little by little,' leading to confusion about their specific nuances.
'少しずつ' is a general term for gradual progression, while 'ぽつぽつ' often implies an intermittent or scattered nature, like raindrops or isolated occurrences.
毎日少しずつ日本語を勉強しています。(Mainichi sukoshizutsu Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu.) - I study Japanese little by little every day.
Both suggest a gradual change, but 'だんだん' implies a steady, continuous progression, which can be mistaken for 'ぽつぽつ's more sporadic nature.
'だんだん' indicates a smooth, continuous increase or decrease, while 'ぽつぽつ' suggests a start-and-stop, or scattered, progression.
だんだん寒くなってきました。(Dandan samuku natte kimashita.) - It's gradually getting colder.
Both words can describe things being scattered or separated, but their emphasis differs.
'ばらばら' emphasizes disarray, being in pieces, or scattered widely. 'ぽつぽつ' refers to a sparse, intermittent distribution.
みんなの意見がばらばらだった。(Minna no iken ga barabara datta.) - Everyone's opinions were all over the place.
Both 'まばら' and 'ぽつぽつ' describe something sparse or scattered. The distinction is subtle.
'まばら' generally refers to a thin or sparse distribution, like sparse hair or a thinly populated area. 'ぽつぽつ' often carries the nuance of individual, distinct, and sometimes intermittent occurrences.
彼の髪はまばらになってきた。(Kare no kami wa mabara ni natte kita.) - His hair has become sparse.
Both imply seeing things here and there, which can lead to confusion.
'ちらほら' specifically refers to seeing a few things here and there, often implying a quick or fleeting glimpse. 'ぽつぽつ' describes individual, distinct occurrences, which can be continuous or intermittent.
紅葉がちらほら見え始めた。(Kōyō ga chirahora miehajimeta.) - The autumn leaves have started to appear here and there.
Patrones de oraciones
ぽつぽつ (something) があります。
雨がぽつぽつ降っています。(Ame ga potsupotsu futte imasu.) - It's raining sparsely/a few drops are falling.
ぽつぽつ (verb).
お客さんがぽつぽつ来ました。(Okyakusan ga potsupotsu kimashita.) - Customers came little by little/one by one.
(場所) に ぽつぽつ (もの) が見えます。
壁にぽつぽつシミが見えます。(Kabe ni potsupotsu shimi ga miemasu.) - You can see sparse/scattered stains on the wall.
ぽつぽつ (状態) になります。
肌にぽつぽつができている。(Hada ni potsupotsu ga dekite iru.) - My skin has developed sparse/scattered bumps.
Consejos
Meaning of ぽつぽつ
The word ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) is an adverb. It describes something happening in a sparse, intermittent way, or in small drops.
Visualize "Sparsely"
Think of ぽつぽつ like raindrops beginning to fall, not in a downpour, but a few drops here and there. This helps with the 'sparse' meaning.
Use for rain
A common use is with rain. ぽつぽつ雨が降ってきた (potsupotsu ame ga futte kita) means 'It started raining sparingly/lightly.'
"Little by little" context
It can also mean 'little by little' or 'gradually', especially when referring to things appearing or happening slowly. For example, ぽつぽつ人が集まる (potsupotsu hito ga atsumaru) means 'People are gathering little by little'.
Similar to Onomatopoeia
While not strictly onomatopoeia, ぽつぽつ has a sound-like quality, representing the intermittent nature of what it describes. Many Japanese adverbs have this characteristic.
Common phrases with ぽつぽつ
Practice with phrases like ぽつぽつと (potsupotsu to) to emphasize the adverbial nature. For instance, ぽつぽつと話し始めた (potsupotsu to hanashi hajimeta) - 'They started talking in bits and pieces/hesitantly'.
Can describe appearance
You can use ぽつぽつ to describe things appearing sparsely, like pimples or spots. For example, 顔にぽつぽつができた (kao ni potsupotsu ga dekita) - 'I got some spots on my face'.
Distinguish from ぱらぱら
While similar for light rain, ぱらぱら (parapara) often implies a slightly more continuous or faster pattering than ぽつぽつ's more individual drops.
Observe native usage
Pay attention to how native speakers use ぽつぽつ in context. Watching Japanese dramas or listening to podcasts can help you pick up on its natural usage and various nuances. Focus on the visual and temporal aspects it describes.
Practice sentences
Create your own sentences using ぽつぽつ. For example, 庭にぽつぽつ花が咲いている (niwa ni potsupotsu hana ga saiteiru) - 'Flowers are blooming sparsely in the garden.' This helps solidify your understanding and recall.
Origen de la palabra
Sound-symbolic (onomatopoeic)
Significado original: The sound or appearance of small drops falling or appearing individually.
JapaneseContexto cultural
The word <code>potsu-potsu</code> evokes a gentle, somewhat melancholic image in Japanese culture, often used to describe light, intermittent rain or the gradual appearance of something. It can also imply a slow but steady progression, like 'little by little' or 'one by one'. This nuanced usage reflects a cultural appreciation for subtle changes and quiet observations.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasGood question! While ぽつぽつ can mean 'little by little,' it often carries a nuance of something appearing or happening in
Absolutely! While it's commonly used for rain, you can apply ぽつぽつ to describe other situations where things appear
Yes, it is! ぽつぽつ is a fairly common and natural-sounding word in Japanese. You'll hear it in various contexts, especially when describing weather or the appearance of something in
Generally, ぽつぽつ is
You can use it just like a regular adverb. Here's an example:
雨が
(Ame ga
It started to rain
No, ぽつぽつ is an
While it describes small amounts, it's more about things appearing
If someone is 'ぽつぽつと話す,' it means they are speaking
It can imply both. When referring to rain, it's about
ぽつぽつ is a fairly
Ponte a prueba 150 preguntas
雨が___降っています。(Ame ga ___ futteimasu.) The rain is falling sparsely.
「ぽつぽつ」means sparsely, which fits the context of rain falling lightly.
壁にシミが___ある。(Kabe ni shimi ga ___ aru.) There are scattered stains on the wall.
「ぽつぽつ」describes scattered spots or stains.
客が___入ってきた。(Kyaku ga ___ haittekita.) Customers came in little by little.
「ぽつぽつ」can mean 'little by little' or 'one by one' in this context.
テーブルにパンくずが___落ちている。(Tēburu ni pankuzu ga ___ ochiteiru.) Breadcrumbs are scattered on the table.
「ぽつぽつ」is used to describe small, scattered items.
庭に花が___咲いている。(Niwa ni hana ga ___ saiteiru.) Flowers are blooming sparsely in the garden.
「ぽつぽつ」can indicate that something is growing or appearing in small, isolated instances.
少しずつ、会話ができるように___。(Sukoshizutsu, kaiwa ga dekiru yō ni ___.) Little by little, I can have conversations.
In this context,「ぽつぽつ」implies progress happening gradually or little by little.
Write a short sentence describing light rain starting, using 'ぽつぽつ'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Imagine you are finding a few items one by one. Use 'ぽつぽつ' to describe this.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
おもちゃをぽつぽつ見つけた。
Write a sentence about drops of water appearing slowly, using 'ぽつぽつ'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
窓に水滴がぽつぽつ出ている。
What kind of rain is falling?
Read this passage:
雨がぽつぽつ降っています。傘を持っていますか？
What kind of rain is falling?
「ぽつぽつ」 describes light, sparse drops.
「ぽつぽつ」 describes light, sparse drops.
What is sparsely scattered on the table?
Read this passage:
テーブルの上に、パンくずがぽつぽつ落ちています。
What is sparsely scattered on the table?
「パンくず」 means bread crumbs. 「ぽつぽつ」 indicates they are scattered sparsely.
「パンくず」 means bread crumbs. 「ぽつぽつ」 indicates they are scattered sparsely.
How is the child starting to walk?
Read this passage:
子どもがぽつぽつ歩き始めました。
How is the child starting to walk?
Here, 「ぽつぽつ」 means little by little, referring to the child's gradual progress in walking.
Here, 「ぽつぽつ」 means little by little, referring to the child's gradual progress in walking.
'雨が' (ame ga) means 'rain', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsu potsu) means 'sparsely' or 'in drops', and '降る' (furu) means 'to fall'. The natural order is 'Rain falls sparsely'.
'水が' (mizu ga) means 'water', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsu potsu) means 'in drops', and '落ちる' (ochiru) means 'to fall'. The natural order is 'Water falls in drops'.
'人が' (hito ga) means 'people', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsu potsu) here means 'sparsely' or 'one by one', and '歩く' (aruku) means 'to walk'. The natural order is 'People walk sparsely'.
雨が___降ってきた。 (Ame ga ___ futte kita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は雨がまばらに、少しずつ降る様子を表します。
彼の日本語はまだ___だが、頑張っている。 (Kare no Nihongo wa mada ___ da ga, ganbatte iru.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、少しずつ、まばらに話す様子を表すことができます。ここでは、まだ流暢ではない日本語の様子を示しています。
庭に花が___咲いている。 (Niwa ni hana ga ___ saite iru.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、まばらに、少しずつというニュアンスで、ここでは花が点々と咲いている様子を表します。
テストの点数が___上がってきた。 (Tesuto no tensū ga ___ agatte kita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、少しずつ、徐々にという意味で、ここでは点数が少しずつ上がっている様子を表します。
彼の話には___間違いがある。 (Kare no hanashi ni wa ___ machigai ga aru.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、まばらに、いくつかという意味で、ここでは話の中に点々と間違いがある様子を表します。
テーブルの上にパンくずが___落ちている。 (Tēburu no ue ni pankuzu ga ___ ochite iru.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、まばらに、点々とという意味で、ここではパンくずがいくつか落ちている様子を表します。
Choose the best English meaning for 「雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた」 (Ame ga potsu-potsu futte kita).
「ぽつぽつ」 describes rain falling in individual drops, not heavily or continuously.
Which sentence uses 「ぽつぽつ」 correctly?
「ぽつぽつ」 is used to describe something happening little by little or sparsely, especially for rain.
What is the best translation for 「少しずつ」 (sukoshi zutsu) in the context of learning something little by little?
「ぽつぽつ」 and 「少しずつ」 can both mean 'little by little' when describing progress or actions.
「ぽつぽつ」 can be used to describe heavy rain.
「ぽつぽつ」 describes rain falling sparsely, not heavily.
You can use 「ぽつぽつ」 to say someone is eating a lot of food.
「ぽつぽつ」 refers to something happening in small amounts or sparsely, not a large quantity.
「ぽつぽつ」 can describe someone speaking quietly, with pauses.
While primarily for drops of rain, 「ぽつぽつ」 can also be used to describe speech that is hesitant or sparse.
What is starting to happen with the rain?
How are the flowers appearing in the garden?
What can you see sparsely in the sky?
Read this aloud:
雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsu-potsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
テーブルに水がぽつぽつ落ちた。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsu-potsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
木に葉がぽつぽつ残っている。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsu-potsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you're describing a light rain. How would you say that it's raining 'sparsely' or 'in drops' in Japanese, using ぽつぽつ?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
雨がぽつぽつ降っている。
You are learning to draw. You want to say you are improving 'little by little'. How would you phrase this in Japanese, using ぽつぽつ?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
絵がぽつぽつ上手になってきた。
You're describing stars appearing in the night sky. How would you say they are appearing 'sparsely' or 'one by one' in Japanese, using ぽつぽつ?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
星がぽつぽつ見えてきた。
この文で、雨はどのように降り始めましたか？
Read this passage:
雨がぽつぽつと降り始めました。傘を持っていなかったので、少し濡れてしまいました。
この文で、雨はどのように降り始めましたか？
「ぽつぽつ」は雨が少しずつ降る様子を表します。
「ぽつぽつ」は雨が少しずつ降る様子を表します。
子供はどのように新しい言葉を覚えていますか？
Read this passage:
子供は新しい言葉をぽつぽつ覚え始めました。毎日少しずつですが、成長が見られます。
子供はどのように新しい言葉を覚えていますか？
「ぽつぽつ」は物事が少しずつ進む様子を表します。
「ぽつぽつ」は物事が少しずつ進む様子を表します。
壁のシミはどのような状態でしたか？
Read this passage:
壁にシミがぽつぽつとできていました。掃除をしないとだめですね。
壁のシミはどのような状態でしたか？
「ぽつぽつ」は、物が点々とある様子も表すことがあります。
「ぽつぽつ」は、物が点々とある様子も表すことがあります。
This sentence describes rain starting sparsely or in drops. '雨が' (ame ga) means 'rain', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) indicates sparsely/in drops, and '降り始めた' (furihajimeta) means 'started to fall'.
This sentence describes people walking sparsely on the street. '道に' (michi ni) means 'on the road', '人が' (hito ga) means 'people', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) indicates sparsely, and '歩いていた' (aruite ita) means 'were walking'.
This sentence describes flowers blooming sparsely in the garden. '庭に' (niwa ni) means 'in the garden', '花が' (hana ga) means 'flowers', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) indicates sparsely, and '咲いている' (saite iru) means 'are blooming'.
雨が___降ってきた。(Ame ga ___ futte kita.) It started raining ___.
ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) means sparsely or in drops, which fits the context of rain starting.
テーブルに水滴が___ついている。(Tēburu ni suiteki ga ___ tsuite iru.) There are water droplets ___ on the table.
ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) describes something appearing sparsely or in small, distinct spots, which works for water droplets.
彼の顔に汗が___出てきた。(Kare no kao ni ase ga ___ dete kita.) Sweat started appearing ___ on his face.
ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) conveys the idea of sweat appearing in small, scattered drops.
庭の花が___咲き始めた。(Niwa no hana ga ___ saki hajimeta.) The garden flowers began to bloom ___.
ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) can describe things happening gradually or little by little, such as flowers starting to bloom individually.
体中に赤い発疹が___出た。(Karadajū ni akai hosshin ga ___ deta.) Red rashes appeared ___ all over my body.
ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) fits the description of rashes appearing sparsely or in small spots.
会議室には人が___しかいなかった。(Kaigishitsu ni wa hito ga ___ shika inakatta.) There were only ___ people in the meeting room.
ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) can imply a small, scattered number of people, or sparsely attended.
Choose the best English translation for 「雨がぽつぽつ降ってきた」
「ぽつぽつ」 describes rain falling in scattered drops, or sparsely.
Which of these situations best uses 「ぽつぽつ」?
「ぽつぽつ」 can describe things appearing or happening little by little, or in a scattered/sparse manner, like flowers blooming individually.
If someone is speaking 「ぽつぽつ」, how are they likely speaking?
When describing speech, 「ぽつぽつ」 can mean speaking haltingly or with long pauses, little by little.
「ぽつぽつ」 can be used to describe heavy rainfall.
「ぽつぽつ」 refers to sparse, scattered drops, not heavy rainfall.
「ぽつぽつ」 can describe something happening gradually over time.
「ぽつぽつ」 can mean 'little by little' or 'gradually', implying a slow, incremental process.
You can use 「ぽつぽつ」 to describe a rapidly growing big city.
「ぽつぽつ」 implies sparsity or slowness, which does not fit the rapid growth of a big city.
What is starting to happen with the rain?
What is falling on the desk?
How are the people gathering?
Read this aloud:
庭に花がぽつぽつ咲いている。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsu-potsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
最近、お店に客がぽつぽつしか来ない。
Focus: ぽつぽつしか (potsu-potsu shika)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
少しずつ、ぽつぽつと日本語を勉強しています。
Focus: ぽつぽつと (potsu-potsu to)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'The rain started falling sparsely.' or 'It started raining little by little.' '雨が' (ame ga) is 'rain', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) describes the way it's falling, and '降ってきた' (futtekita) means 'started to fall'.
This sentence means 'Water droplets are sparsely falling on the table.' 'テーブルの上に' (teeburu no ue ni) is 'on the table', '水滴が' (suiteki ga) is 'water droplets', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) describes the scattered nature, and '落ちている' (ochite iru) means 'are falling'.
This sentence means 'Recently, customers have started coming little by little.' '最近' (saikin) is 'recently', 'お客さんが' (okyaku-san ga) is 'customers', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) indicates a gradual, sparse start, and '来始めた' (kihajimeta) means 'started to come'.
雨が___降り始めた。
雨が少しずつ降り始める様子を表すときに「ぽつぽつ」を使います。「ざあざあ」は大雨、「しとしと」は静かに降る雨、「がんがん」は擬音語として音や頭痛を表すときに使います。
彼の額には汗が___と浮かんできた。
汗が少量ずつ、点々と出てくる様子を表すのに「ぽつぽつ」が適切です。「だらだら」は汗がとめどなく流れる様子、「たらたら」は液体がしたたる様子、「じわじわ」はゆっくりと進行する様子を表します。
畑には野菜が___と植えられている。
野菜が間隔を空けてまばらに植えられている様子を表すときに「ぽつぽつ」を使います。「ぎっしり」や「びっしり」は隙間なく詰まっている様子、「すっかり」は完全に、という意味です。
会議では___と意見が出された。
意見が途切れ途切れに、少しずつ出される様子を表すのに「ぽつぽつ」が適切です。「活発に」や「次々と」、「どんどん」は意見が活発に、たくさん出される状況を表します。
観光客は夏でも冬でも___とやって来る。
観光客が間を置いて、少しずつ来る様子を表すときに「ぽつぽつ」を使います。「どっと」は一度に大勢来る様子、「ひっきりなしに」や「絶え間なく」は途切れることなく続く様子を表します。
彼の顔には、年のせいかシミが___と増えてきた。
シミが点々と、少しずつ増えていく様子を表すのに「ぽつぽつ」が適切です。「たくさん」や「いっぱいに」は量が多いこと、「どんどん」は勢いよく増えることを表します。
Choose the best English translation for: 「彼はぽつぽつと自分の考えを述べた。」
「ぽつぽつ」 can mean 'little by little' when referring to actions or speech.
Which sentence uses 「ぽつぽつ」 correctly to describe sparse objects?
「ぽつぽつ」 is used to describe things scattered sparsely or infrequently.
Select the most appropriate meaning for 「ぽつぽつ」 in the sentence: 「空から雨がぽつぽつと落ちてきた。」
When referring to rain, 「ぽつぽつ」 means it's falling in scattered drops, not heavily.
The sentence 「彼はぽつぽつと話し続けた。」 implies that he spoke fluently and continuously.
「ぽつぽつと話す」 suggests speaking hesitantly or with pauses, not fluently and continuously.
You can use 「ぽつぽつ」 to describe a crowded street.
「ぽつぽつ」 refers to sparsity or infrequency, which is the opposite of crowded.
If you hear 「ぽつぽつとシミができた。」, it means many large stains appeared all at once.
「ぽつぽつ」 indicates small, scattered spots or stains appearing gradually, not many large ones all at once.
The rain just started, how would you describe it?
Imagine water drops on a surface. How are they appearing?
People are starting to gather. What's the pace like?
Read this aloud:
雨がぽつぽつと降っていますね。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
部屋にぽつぽつと明かりが灯り始めた。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
窓ガラスに水滴がぽつぽつとついています。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Describe a time you saw rain starting gently using ぽつぽつ. (Min 2 sentences)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
空が暗くなり始め、ぽつぽつと雨が降ってきた。傘を持っていなかったので、急いで屋根のある場所に移動した。(The sky started to darken, and rain began to fall sparsely. I didn't have an umbrella, so I quickly moved to a sheltered spot.)
Write a short paragraph about how something (e.g., a skill, a garden) is growing little by little using ぽつぽつ. (Min 2 sentences)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
日本語の学習は、毎日少しずつ進んでいます。ぽつぽつと新しい単語を覚え、文法も少しずつ理解できるようになってきました。(My Japanese study is progressing little by little every day. I'm sparsely learning new words and gradually understanding grammar.)
Imagine you are describing a sparsely populated area. Use ぽつぽつ in your description. (Min 2 sentences)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
その村はとても静かで、家がぽつぽつと建っていた。周りには広い畑が広がっていた。(That village was very quiet, with houses built sparsely. Wide fields spread out around it.)
著者は何が見えましたか？ (What did the author see?)
Read this passage:
朝起きて窓の外を見ると、まだ暗い空から雨がぽつぽつと降っていた。こんな日は家でゆっくり過ごすのが一番だ。
著者は何が見えましたか？ (What did the author see?)
passage states 'まだ暗い空から雨がぽつぽつと降っていた' which means 'rain was falling sparsely from the dark sky'.
passage states 'まだ暗い空から雨がぽつぽつと降っていた' which means 'rain was falling sparsely from the dark sky'.
このプロジェクトはどのように進行しましたか？ (How did this project progress?)
Read this passage:
新しいプロジェクトの進捗は、最初はゆっくりだった。しかし、チームの努力のおかげで、問題がぽつぽつと解決され、最終的には成功した。
このプロジェクトはどのように進行しましたか？ (How did this project progress?)
The passage says '最初はゆっくりだった' (it was slow at first) and '問題がぽつぽつと解決され' (problems were sparsely/gradually solved).
The passage says '最初はゆっくりだった' (it was slow at first) and '問題がぽつぽつと解決され' (problems were sparsely/gradually solved).
商店街の様子について、最も適切な説明はどれですか？ (Which is the most appropriate description of the shopping street's appearance?)
Read this passage:
数年ぶりに故郷を訪れた。昔賑やかだった商店街も、今では閉まっている店がぽつぽつと目立つ。時の流れを感じた。
商店街の様子について、最も適切な説明はどれですか？ (Which is the most appropriate description of the shopping street's appearance?)
The passage states '閉まっている店がぽつぽつと目立つ' meaning closed shops were sparsely noticeable.
The passage states '閉まっている店がぽつぽつと目立つ' meaning closed shops were sparsely noticeable.
This sentence describes rain starting sparsely. '雨が' (rain) is the subject, 'ぽつぽつ' (sparsely) describes how it started, and '降り始めた' (started to fall) is the verb phrase.
This sentence describes flowers blooming sparsely in the garden. '庭に' (in the garden) sets the location, '花が' (flowers) is the subject, 'ぽつぽつと' (sparsely) describes their blooming, and '咲いている' (are blooming) is the verb.
This sentence describes a conversation stopping intermittently. '彼の話は' (his story) is the subject, 'ぽつぽつと' (intermittently) describes the manner, and '途切れた' (stopped) is the verb.
空から雨が___と降ってきた。 (Sora kara ame ga ___ to futte kita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は雨がまばらに降る様子を表します。
彼の話を聞いていると、___と疑問が湧いてきた。 (Kare no hanashi o kiite iru to, ___ to gimon ga waite kita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、少しずつ、まばらに何かが現れる様子を表すことができます。
病気をしてから、体重が___と減っていった。 (Byōki o shite kara, taijū ga ___ to hette itta.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、少しずつ、ゆっくりと変化が起こる様子を表します。
その古い村には、___としか家が残っていなかった。 (Sono furui mura ni wa, ___ to shika ie ga nokotte inakatta.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、まばらに点在する様子を表します。
彼の作品は、評価が___と上がり始めた。 (Kare no sakuhin wa, hyōka ga ___ to agari hajimeta.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、少しずつ、段階的に変化する様子を表す際に使われます。
庭に___と咲いている花が美しい。 (Niwa ni ___ to saite iru hana ga utsukushii.)
「ぽつぽつ」は、まばらに花が咲いている様子を表すのに適しています。
The rain started to fall sparsely.
Water droplets are falling one by one on the table.
People gathered sparsely in the meeting room.
Read this aloud:
森の中にぽつぽつと家が見える。
Focus: ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
最近、彼の白髪がぽつぽつと増えてきた。
Focus: ぽつぽつと (potsupotsu to)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彼女の顔にニキビがぽつぽつとできた。
Focus: ニキビがぽつぽつと (nikibi ga potsupotsu to)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Describe a situation where something happened 'little by little' or 'sparsely'. Use ぽつぽつ in your description. Aim for 2-3 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼の日本語は、留学当初はぽつぽつとしか話せなかったが、毎日練習するうちに上達していった。今では流暢に会話できる。 (At the beginning of his study abroad, he could only speak Japanese sparsely, but as he practiced every day, he improved. Now he can converse fluently.)
Imagine you are explaining the meaning of ぽつぽつ to a friend. Write a short explanation, including an example of its usage related to rain or drops. Use ぽつぽつ in your explanation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ぽつぽつは、何かが少しずつ、または点々と起こる様子を表す言葉だよ。例えば、雨がぽつぽつと降り始めた、というように使うんだ。 (Potsu-potsu describes something happening little by little, or sporadically. For example, you use it like 'the rain started to fall sparsely.')
Write a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) describing a feeling of gradual change or appearance using ぽつぽつ. Consider feelings of anxiety, happiness, or a physical sensation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
新しいプロジェクトが始まってから、少しずつ不安な気持ちがぽつぽつと湧いてきた。しかし、同僚のサポートで徐々に自信が戻ってきた。 (Since the new project started, feelings of anxiety have gradually surfaced. However, with the support of my colleagues, my confidence gradually returned.)
文章から、話し手はなぜ急いでカフェに駆け込んだと考えられますか？ (From the passage, why do you think the speaker rushed into the cafe?)
Read this passage:
公園で散歩していると、空からぽつぽつと雨が降り始めた。最初は小さな雫だったが、やがて本降りに変わった。傘を持っていなかったので、急いで近くのカフェに駆け込んだ。(As I was walking in the park, rain started to fall sparsely from the sky. At first, it was just small drops, but eventually, it turned into a downpour. I didn't have an umbrella, so I rushed into a nearby cafe.)
文章から、話し手はなぜ急いでカフェに駆け込んだと考えられますか？ (From the passage, why do you think the speaker rushed into the cafe?)
文章に「傘を持っていなかったので、急いで近くのカフェに駆け込んだ」とあり、その直前に雨が本降りになったと書かれているため、これが最も適切な理由です。 (The passage states, 'I didn't have an umbrella, so I rushed into a nearby cafe,' and immediately before that, it mentions the rain becoming a downpour, making this the most appropriate reason.)
文章に「傘を持っていなかったので、急いで近くのカフェに駆け込んだ」とあり、その直前に雨が本降りになったと書かれているため、これが最も適切な理由です。 (The passage states, 'I didn't have an umbrella, so I rushed into a nearby cafe,' and immediately before that, it mentions the rain becoming a downpour, making this the most appropriate reason.)
「ぽつぽつと現れ始めた」とは、研究の成果がどのように出てきたことを意味しますか？ (What does 'started to appear sparsely' mean regarding the research results?)
Read this passage:
長年取り組んできた研究の成果が、ようやくぽつぽつと現れ始めた。最初は小さな発見だったが、それが積み重なることで、大きな進歩へと繋がっていった。研究室のメンバー全員がその成果を喜び、さらなる発展に向けて意欲を高めている。(The results of the research I had been working on for many years finally started to appear sparsely. At first, they were small discoveries, but as they accumulated, they led to significant progress. All the members of the laboratory rejoiced at the results and are motivated for further development.)
「ぽつぽつと現れ始めた」とは、研究の成果がどのように出てきたことを意味しますか？ (What does 'started to appear sparsely' mean regarding the research results?)
「ぽつぽつ」の定義と、続く「最初は小さな発見だったが、それが積み重なることで」という文脈から、成果が一度にではなく、少しずつ現れたことを示しています。 (From the definition of 'potsu-potsu' and the following context, 'At first, they were small discoveries, but as they accumulated,' it indicates that the results appeared little by little, not all at once.)
「ぽつぽつ」の定義と、続く「最初は小さな発見だったが、それが積み重なることで」という文脈から、成果が一度にではなく、少しずつ現れたことを示しています。 (From the definition of 'potsu-potsu' and the following context, 'At first, they were small discoveries, but as they accumulated,' it indicates that the results appeared little by little, not all at once.)
この文章において、シミが「ぽつぽつとできてきた」と表現されていることで、どのようなニュアンスが伝わりますか？ (In this passage, what nuance is conveyed by the expression 'spots began to appear sparsely'?)
Read this passage:
彼女の顔に、年齢を重ねるごとにぽつぽつとシミができてきた。しかし、それは彼女の人生経験の証であり、彼女はそれを隠そうとはしなかった。むしろ、そのシミの一つ一つに物語があると語るのだった。(As she aged, spots began to appear sparsely on her face. However, these were a testament to her life experiences, and she did not try to hide them. Rather, she would say that each of those spots had a story.)
この文章において、シミが「ぽつぽつとできてきた」と表現されていることで、どのようなニュアンスが伝わりますか？ (In this passage, what nuance is conveyed by the expression 'spots began to appear sparsely'?)
「ぽつぽつ」は「少しずつ」「断続的に」という意味合いを持ち、この文脈ではシミが時間の経過とともにゆっくりと現れて増えていった様子を表しています。 ('Potsu-potsu' carries the nuance of 'little by little' or 'intermittently,' and in this context, it describes the spots slowly appearing and increasing over time.)
「ぽつぽつ」は「少しずつ」「断続的に」という意味合いを持ち、この文脈ではシミが時間の経過とともにゆっくりと現れて増えていった様子を表しています。 ('Potsu-potsu' carries the nuance of 'little by little' or 'intermittently,' and in this context, it describes the spots slowly appearing and increasing over time.)
This sentence describes rain starting to fall sparsely. '雨が' (ame ga) means 'rain', 'ぽつぽつ' (potsupotsu) describes the sound or manner of sparse falling, and '降ってきた' (futtekita) means 'started to fall'.
Here, 'ぽつぽつと' indicates that opposing opinions emerged little by little or sparsely during the discussion. '議論の最中' (giron no saichū) means 'during the discussion', '反対意見' (hantai iken) means 'opposing opinions', and '出た' (deta) means 'emerged'.
This sentence means that results started to appear little by little by continuing practice. '練習を重ねることで' (renshū o kasaneru koto de) means 'by continuing practice', '成果' (seika) means 'results', and '出始めた' (dehajimeta) means 'started to appear'.
空から雨が___と降ってきた。 (Sora kara ame ga ___ to futte kita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は雨がまばらに降る様子を表します。
彼の額には汗が___と浮き出ていた。 (Kare no hitai ni wa ase ga ___ to ukidete ita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は汗が少しずつ、まばらに出る様子を表します。
議論の途中で、参加者から意見が___と出始めた。 (Giron no tochū de, sanka-sha kara iken ga ___ to dehajimeta.)
「ぽつぽつ」は意見が少しずつ、間を置いて出始める様子を表します。
昔の友人と再会し、___と昔話に花が咲いた。 (Mukashi no yūjin to saikai shi, ___ to mukashi-banashi ni hana ga saita.)
「ぽつぽつ」はゆっくりと、少しずつ会話が弾む様子を表します。
庭には赤い花が___と咲き始めていた。 (Niwa ni wa akai hana ga ___ to sakihajimete ita.)
「ぽつぽつ」は花がまばらに咲いている様子を表します。
少しずつ、彼女の心に希望が___と芽生え始めた。 (Sukoshi zutsu, kanojo no kokoro ni kibō ga ___ to mebae hajimeta.)
「ぽつぽつ」は希望が少しずつ、ゆっくりと現れる様子を表します。
Choose the sentence where 「ぽつぽつ」 is used to describe something happening intermittently or in small quantities.
「ぽつぽつとパンを食べた」implies eating slowly and in small, intermittent bites, aligning with the nuance of 'little by little' or 'sparsely'. The other options refer to drops of rain or tears, or opinions emerging sparsely, which are valid uses, but this option specifically targets the 'little by little' aspect of consumption.
Which sentence most accurately uses 「ぽつぽつ」 to convey the idea of a few, scattered items appearing?
「空にはぽつぽつと星が見えた」 best describes stars appearing sparsely or in a scattered manner, which is a common usage of 「ぽつぽつ」. The other options also imply sparse distribution but 'stars in the sky' is a very typical example.
Select the option that uses 「ぽつぽつ」 to indicate a conversation or activity occurring with pauses or breaks.
「会話がぽつぽつと途切れた」 accurately portrays a conversation that stops and starts, having intermittent pauses, directly reflecting the 'sparsely' or 'little by little' aspect in the context of continuity.
You can use 「ぽつぽつ」 to describe a consistent, heavy downpour of rain.
「ぽつぽつ」 describes rain falling sparsely or in drops, not a consistent, heavy downpour. For a heavy downpour, you would use words like 「ざーざー」 or 「どしゃ降り」.
「ぽつぽつ」 can be used to describe someone speaking fluently and continuously.
「ぽつぽつ」 implies speaking with pauses, hesitantly, or in small, intermittent utterances. It does not describe fluent and continuous speech.
When describing the progress of a slow and gradual project, 「ぽつぽつ」 can be an appropriate adverb.
「ぽつぽつ」 can indeed describe something progressing 'little by little' or slowly and gradually, indicating intermittent but steady movement forward.
Describe a time you've seen rain falling 'potsu-potsu' (lightly, in drops). What was the atmosphere like? Use 'ぽつぽつ' at least once in your description.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨日の夕方、散歩中に急にぽつぽつと雨が降り始めました。大きな傘を持っていなかったので少し焦りましたが、その音と湿った空気がなんとも言えず、少しロマンチックな雰囲気でした。すぐに止むだろうと思い、そのまま歩き続けました。
Imagine you're building something, and progress is slow but steady. How would you use 'ぽつぽつ' to describe this 'little by little' advancement? Write a short paragraph.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
新しい棚の組み立て作業は、なかなか思うように進みません。説明書を見ながら部品を一つ一つ確認し、週末ごとにぽつぽつと作業を進めています。完成までにはまだ時間がかかりそうですが、焦らずにやろうと思っています。
You're observing something appearing sparsely, like stars in a city sky, or a few flowers blooming out of season. Use 'ぽつぽつ' to convey this sense of sparseness. Write a descriptive sentence or two.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
都会の空には、わずかにぽつぽつと星が見えるだけでした。故郷の夜空の星の数とは比べ物になりません。冬の終わり頃、道端にぽつぽつと小さなスミレが咲き始めているのを見つけました。
この状況で「ぽつぽつ」の雨が降った時、話し手はどう感じましたか？
Read this passage:
公園のベンチに座って空を見上げると、ぽつぽつと小さな水滴が顔に当たり始めた。天気予報では晴れだったはずなのに、急な雨に驚いた。しかし、すぐに止むだろうと思い、そのまま読書を続けた。その雨音は、都会の喧騒を忘れさせてくれるような静けさだった。
この状況で「ぽつぽつ」の雨が降った時、話し手はどう感じましたか？
話し手は「急な雨に驚いた」とありますが、その後「すぐに止むだろうと思い、そのまま読書を続けた」とあるので、心配はせず、特に気にしなかったことがわかります。
話し手は「急な雨に驚いた」とありますが、その後「すぐに止むだろうと思い、そのまま読書を続けた」とあるので、心配はせず、特に気にしなかったことがわかります。
このカフェの開店準備について、筆者が最も伝えたいのはどのような状況ですか？
Read this passage:
長年の夢だったカフェの開店準備は、一進一退だった。資金集めから内装デザイン、メニュー開発まで、すべてが初めての経験で、毎日が手探りの状態。しかし、諦めずにぽつぽつと作業を続けてきた。友人たちの協力もあり、少しずつ形になってきた。
このカフェの開店準備について、筆者が最も伝えたいのはどのような状況ですか？
「長年の夢」「一進一退」「手探りの状態」という言葉から多くの困難があったことがわかります。しかし「諦めずにぽつぽつと作業を続けてきた」「少しずつ形になってきた」という記述から、困難を乗り越えながらも着実に進展している状況を伝えています。
「長年の夢」「一進一退」「手探りの状態」という言葉から多くの困難があったことがわかります。しかし「諦めずにぽつぽつと作業を続けてきた」「少しずつ形になってきた」という記述から、困難を乗り越えながらも着実に進展している状況を伝えています。
このプロジェクトは現在どのような段階にありますか？
Read this passage:
新しいプロジェクトは立ち上がったばかりで、まだ具体的な成果はぽつぽつとしか見えていません。しかし、チームメンバーは皆、その可能性を信じ、地道な努力を続けています。この種まきの時期を乗り越えれば、きっと大きな実を結ぶと確信しています。
このプロジェクトは現在どのような段階にありますか？
「立ち上がったばかりで、まだ具体的な成果はぽつぽつとしか見えていません」という記述から、プロジェクトが初期段階であり、目に見える成果が少ない状況であることがわかります。
「立ち上がったばかりで、まだ具体的な成果はぽつぽつとしか見えていません」という記述から、プロジェクトが初期段階であり、目に見える成果が少ない状況であることがわかります。
This sentence describes rain starting sparsely or in drops. The order is 'subject + adverb + verb'.
This sentence describes flowers blooming sparsely in the garden. The order is 'location + subject + adverb + verb'.
This sentence describes someone speaking Japanese little by little. The order is 'subject + object + adverb + verb'.
/ 150 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use ぽつぽつ to describe things happening sparsely, like a light rain or a gradual process.
- light rain
- gradual progress
- scattered
Meaning of ぽつぽつ
The word ぽつぽつ (potsupotsu) is an adverb. It describes something happening in a sparse, intermittent way, or in small drops.
Visualize "Sparsely"
Think of ぽつぽつ like raindrops beginning to fall, not in a downpour, but a few drops here and there. This helps with the 'sparse' meaning.
Use for rain
A common use is with rain. ぽつぽつ雨が降ってきた (potsupotsu ame ga futte kita) means 'It started raining sparingly/lightly.'
"Little by little" context
It can also mean 'little by little' or 'gradually', especially when referring to things appearing or happening slowly. For example, ぽつぽつ人が集まる (potsupotsu hito ga atsumaru) means 'People are gathering little by little'.
Ejemplo
雨がぽつぽつと降り始めた。
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