水っぽい
水っぽい 30秒了解
- Mizuppoi means 'watery' or 'diluted' and is an i-adjective used to describe food, weather, or textures.
- It almost always carries a negative nuance, implying that excess water has ruined the quality of something.
- Commonly used for weak soup, bland fruit, soggy vegetables, and heavy, wet snow.
- It is different from 'mizumizushii,' which is a positive word meaning fresh or juicy.
The Japanese word 水っぽい (mizuppoi) is a common i-adjective used to describe something that has too much water content, resulting in a diluted, weak, or soggy quality. It is predominantly used in negative or critical contexts where the presence of excess water detracts from the desired state of an object. For English speakers, the most direct translation is "watery," but the nuance often implies that the original flavor, texture, or essence has been compromised. In the Japanese culinary world, texture (shokkan) is paramount, so calling a dish mizuppoi is a significant critique. It suggests that the chef failed to reduce a sauce properly, that vegetables were over-boiled, or that fruit is bland and lacks sweetness.
- Etymology and Structure
- The word is composed of 水 (mizu), meaning water, and the suffix 〜っぽい (-ppoi). This suffix is used to indicate that something has the qualities of a certain thing, often in an undesirable or excessive way. Unlike the suffix -rashii (which implies a positive or true representation), -ppoi often feels informal and slightly pejorative. When you add it to water, you get the sense of something being 'water-ish' in a way it shouldn't be.
- Culinary Contexts
- You will most frequently encounter this word in the kitchen or at a restaurant. If a soup has been diluted too much with water or if the stock is weak, it is mizuppoi. If you defrost meat or fish improperly and it loses its juices, the resulting texture becomes mizuppoi. It is the opposite of rich (koku ga aru) or thick (toro-mi ga aru).
このカレーは少し水っぽいですね。もっと煮込んだほうがいいかもしれません。(Kono karee wa sukoshi mizuppoi desu ne. Motto nikonda hou ga ii kamoshiremasen.)
Beyond food, mizuppoi is used to describe weather conditions, specifically snow. In Japan, particularly in coastal areas, snow can be heavy and wet rather than light and powdery. This wet snow is called mizuppoi yuki. It is difficult to shovel and not ideal for skiing. Similarly, it can describe the ground after rain if it has become slushy or muddy in a thin, watery way. The word captures the physical sensation of something that should be solid or concentrated being compromised by the presence of liquid.
- Texture vs. Taste
- It is important to distinguish between 'tasteless' (aji ga nai) and 'watery' (mizuppoi). A dish can have flavor but still be mizuppoi if the consistency is too thin. Conversely, a fruit like a watermelon might be described as mizuppoi if it has lost its crunch and sweetness, becoming merely a vessel for bland liquid. This is often a sign of being overripe or poor quality.
Using 水っぽい (mizuppoi) correctly requires understanding its grammatical status as an i-adjective. This means it can modify nouns directly or function as the predicate of a sentence. Because it carries a negative nuance, it is rarely used to praise something. For example, you would never use it to describe a refreshing glass of water or a juicy peach (for that, you would use mizumizushii).
- Direct Modification
- When modifying a noun, simply place mizuppoi before it. Common pairings include mizuppoi soup (watery soup), mizuppoi yasai (watery/soggy vegetables), and mizuppoi yuki (wet snow).
- Sentence Ending
- In the predicate position, it follows the standard i-adjective conjugation. For politeness, add desu. For the negative, change the final -i to -kunai (e.g., mizuppokunai). For the past tense, change it to -katta (e.g., mizuppokatta).
このトマトは、中が水っぽくてあまり美味しくない。(Kono tomato wa, naka ga mizuppokute amari oishikunai.)
Another common use is with the verb naru (to become). When something becomes watery, you say mizuppoku naru. This is often used when discussing cooking mistakes or the effects of time on food. For instance, if you add salt to a salad too early, the vegetables will release their water and become soggy. You would describe this process as yasai ga mizuppoku natte shimatta (the vegetables ended up becoming watery).
- Comparison with 'Usui'
- Learners often confuse mizuppoi with usui (thin/weak). While a soup can be both, usui refers specifically to the lack of flavor or concentration, whereas mizuppoi refers to the physical presence of too much water. You can have a tea that is usui (weak) but not necessarily mizuppoi (watery), as tea is naturally water-based.
The word 水っぽい (mizuppoi) is ubiquitous in daily Japanese life, particularly in domestic and service industry settings. It is a word of practical observation. You will hear it in kitchens, on weather reports, and in casual conversations about food quality. Because it is an 'i-adjective' ending in -ppoi, it feels natural in spoken Japanese, bridging the gap between polite and casual registers.
- In the Kitchen and Dining Room
- Home cooks use this word frequently to describe their own mistakes. "I didn't drain the spinach enough, so the sauce became mizuppoi." In restaurants, a customer might use it (discreetly) to describe a disappointing soup or a cocktail that has too much melted ice. It is a standard term in food reviews on sites like Tabelog to describe ramen broth that lacks richness.
- Weather and Environment
- Meteorologists and people in snowy regions like Niigata or Hokkaido use mizuppoi to describe the quality of snowfall. Unlike the desirable 'powder snow' (paudaa sunoo), mizuppoi yuki is heavy and indicates that the temperature is near freezing, causing the snow to melt slightly as it falls. You might also hear it used to describe the ground: "The path is mizuppoi after the rain," implying it’s muddy and wet.
今日の雪はすごく水っぽいから、雪かきが大変だ。(Kyou no yuki wa sugoku mizuppoi kara, yukikaki ga taihen da.)
You will also find mizuppoi in agricultural contexts. Farmers might use it to describe a harvest that was affected by too much rain. A mizuppoi melon is one that grew too fast due to excess water and hasn't developed its sugars. In this way, the word is linked to the Japanese appreciation for the 'seasonal best' (shun) of ingredients, where the perfect balance of moisture and flavor is highly valued.
For English speakers learning Japanese, the primary challenge with 水っぽい (mizuppoi) lies in distinguishing it from other words that describe moisture or thinness. Because English often uses 'watery' for many things, students tend to over-apply mizuppoi or use it in places where a more positive word is required.
- Mistake 1: Confusing with 'Mizumizushii'
- This is the most common error. 瑞々しい (mizumizushii) also comes from the word for water, but it is a high compliment. It means 'fresh,' 'juicy,' or 'vibrant.' If you describe a fresh summer peach as mizuppoi, you are saying it is bland and diluted. If you call it mizumizushii, you are saying it is perfectly succulent and fresh.
- Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Usui'
- As mentioned before, usui means 'thin' or 'weak' in terms of concentration. If you make coffee with too little grounds, it is usui. While you could call it mizuppoi, usui is the more natural choice for liquids that are meant to be thin. Mizuppoi is better reserved for things that are supposed to be thick or solid but have become runny (like a sauce or mashed potatoes).
❌ このスイカは水っぽくて美味しい。
✅ このスイカは瑞々しくて美味しい。
Another mistake involves the word nureru (to get wet). If you get caught in the rain, your clothes are nurete iru (wet), not mizuppoi. Mizuppoi describes the internal quality or the consistency of a substance, not the state of having water on the surface of an object. Understanding this distinction helps avoid sounding unnatural when describing everyday accidents.
While 水っぽい (mizuppoi) is the go-to word for 'watery,' Japanese offers several alternatives depending on the specific texture or context you want to emphasize. Choosing the right synonym can make your Japanese sound much more precise and sophisticated.
- 薄い (Usui)
- Meaning 'thin' or 'weak.' Use this for flavors, colors, or the thickness of objects. If a soup lacks salt or seasoning, it is aji ga usui (the taste is thin). If you use mizuppoi, you are specifically blaming the water content.
- べちゃべちゃ (Becha-becha)
- An onomatopoeic word for 'soggy' or 'mushy.' Use this for rice that was cooked with too much water, or for ground that is very muddy. It implies a sticky, unpleasant wetness that is more extreme than mizuppoi.
- しゃばしゃば (Shaba-shaba)
- Another onomatopoeic word specifically used for liquids that should be thick (like curry or gravy) but are runny. It mimics the sound of thin liquid splashing. While mizuppoi is a general adjective, shaba-shaba is more descriptive of the flow.
このカレー、しゃばしゃばだね。もっととろみが欲しい。(Kono karee, shaba-shaba da ne. Motto toromi ga hoshii.)
When describing fruit, you might also hear mizu-kusai. While mizuppoi is more common, mizu-kusai literally means 'stinking of water,' implying that the flavor is so weak all you can taste is the water. Interestingly, mizu-kusai is also used idiomatically to describe a friend who is being too formal or distant, as if there is 'water' (a gap) between you. This is a great example of how 'water' imagery is used in Japanese to denote lack of depth or connection.
发音指南
- Pronouncing it as 'mizupoi' without the double 'p' pause.
- Confusing the pitch accent with 'mizu' (water).
- Pronouncing 'u' too strongly like 'oo' in 'food'.
- Failing to make the 'i' at the end clearly an adjective ending.
- Merging the 'o' and 'i' into a single English-style 'oy' sound too quickly.
按水平分级的例句
このスープは水っぽいです。
This soup is watery.
Simple adjective + desu.
水っぽい雪が降っています。
Watery snow is falling.
Adjective modifying a noun.
このトマトは少し水っぽい。
This tomato is a bit watery.
Casual sentence ending.
ジュースが水っぽいですね。
The juice is watery, isn't it?
Adding 'ne' for agreement.
水っぽいのは嫌いです。
I don't like watery things.
Nominalizing the adjective with 'no'.
お茶が水っぽいです。
The tea is watery.
Common food/drink context.
果物が水っぽかった。
The fruit was watery.
Past tense of i-adjective.
水っぽいご飯は美味しくない。
Watery rice is not delicious.
Adjective modifying a noun in a negative sentence.
氷が溶けて、コーラが水っぽくなった。
The ice melted, and the cola became watery.
Using 'naru' (to become) with the adverbial form.
この野菜は水っぽくて、味が薄い。
These vegetables are watery and the taste is weak.
Te-form to connect two adjectives.
もっと煮込まないと、カレーが水っぽくなりますよ。
If you don't simmer it more, the curry will become watery.
Conditional 'to' + naru.
水っぽい雪は重いです。
Watery snow is heavy.
Describing physical properties.
昨日のスープは水っぽくなかったです。
Yesterday's soup wasn't watery.
Negative past tense.
水っぽいメロンは甘くない。
A watery melon isn't sweet.
Common agricultural observation.
ソースが水っぽすぎます。
The sauce is too watery.
Adding 'sugiru' (too much) to the stem.
水っぽいジャガイモはサラダに向かない。
Watery potatoes are not suitable for salad.
Noun + 'ni mukanai' (not suitable for).
解凍の仕方が悪いと、肉が水っぽくなってしまう。
If the defrosting method is bad, the meat ends up becoming watery.
Conditional 'to' + 'te shimau' for regret.
このイチゴは見た目はいいが、食べてみると水っぽい。
These strawberries look good, but when you try eating them, they are watery.
Contrast 'ga' and 'te miru' (try doing).
雨の後は、グラウンドが水っぽくて走りにくい。
After the rain, the ground is watery and hard to run on.
Masu-stem + 'nikui' (hard to do).
茹ですぎたせいで、ほうれん草が水っぽくなった。
Because I over-boiled it, the spinach became watery.
Using 'sei de' to indicate a negative cause.
水っぽいスープを出す店には二度と行かない。
I'll never go again to a shop that serves watery soup.
Relative clause modifying 'mise'.
このカクテル、氷が多すぎて水っぽくない?
Isn't this cocktail watery because there's too much ice?
Casual question form.
水っぽい雪が降ると、靴がすぐに濡れてしまう。
When watery snow falls, my shoes end up getting wet immediately.
Sequential actions with 'te shimau'.
豆腐の水気を切らないと、料理が水っぽくなる。
If you don't drain the water from the tofu, the dish will become watery.
Negative conditional 'nai to'.
今年の桃は長雨の影響で、どれも水っぽい気がする。
I feel like all the peaches this year are watery due to the long rains.
Noun + 'no eikyou de' (due to the influence of).
水っぽいソースを煮詰めて、コクを出してください。
Simmer the watery sauce to bring out the richness.
Imperative form 'te kudasai' with a goal.
この絵の具は水っぽすぎて、色がうまくのらない。
This paint is too watery, so the color doesn't go on well.
Adverbial 'umaku' with a negative verb.
水っぽい地面に足を取られて、転びそうになった。
I got stuck in the watery ground and almost fell.
Verb stem + 'sou ni naru' (almost did).
彼は水っぽいお世辞を言うような人ではない。
He is not the kind of person to give shallow/watery compliments.
Metaphorical use of 'mizuppoi' for shallow/insincere.
水っぽさを解消するために、片栗粉でとろみをつけた。
To resolve the wateriness, I thickened it with potato starch.
Noun form 'mizupposa' + 'tame ni' (in order to).
水っぽい雪は、スキーヤーにとってはあまり嬉しくないものだ。
Watery snow is something that skiers aren't very happy about.
Noun + 'ni totte' (for / from the perspective of).
冷凍野菜は、調理の仕方によっては水っぽくなりやすい。
Frozen vegetables tend to become watery depending on how you cook them.
Masu-stem + 'yasui' (prone to/easy to).
収穫直前の大雨で、スイカが水っぽくなり、商品価値が下がってしまった。
Due to heavy rain right before harvest, the watermelons became watery and their market value dropped.
Complex cause-and-effect with 'te shimau'.
この論文の論理は、どこか水っぽくて説得力に欠ける。
The logic of this paper is somewhat 'watery' (thin) and lacks persuasive power.
Abstract metaphorical use.
水っぽい雪が屋根に積もると、その重みで家が傷む恐れがある。
When watery snow piles up on a roof, there is a risk the house will be damaged by the weight.
Noun + 'no osore ga aru' (there is a fear/risk that).
彼女の描く水彩画は、あえて水っぽさを残すことで透明感を表現している。
The watercolors she paints express transparency by intentionally leaving a 'watery' quality.
Using 'aete' (intentionally/daringly).
新米は水分が多いので、いつも通りに炊くと水っぽくなりがちだ。
New rice has a lot of moisture, so it tends to become watery if cooked as usual.
Masu-stem + 'gachi' (tend to).
水っぽいレタスはシャキシャキ感がなく、サラダの質を著しく下げる。
Watery lettuce lacks crunch and significantly lowers the quality of a salad.
Adverb 'ichijirushiku' (significantly).
あまりに水っぽい対応に、顧客は不満を募らせている。
The customers are growing increasingly frustrated with the 'watery' (weak/insincere) response.
Metaphorical use for business response.
素材の味を活かすには、水っぽさをいかに排除するかが鍵となる。
To bring out the flavor of the ingredients, the key is how to eliminate wateriness.
Interrogative 'ika ni ... ka' (how ...).
その演出は、感動を呼ぶどころか、どこか水っぽく、安っぽく感じられた。
Far from being moving, that direction felt somewhat 'watery' (diluted) and cheap.
Grammar 'dokoro ka' (far from).
雪国育ちの彼にとって、都会の降る水っぽい雪は雪とは呼べない代物だった。
To him, having grown up in snow country, the watery snow that falls in the city was not something he could even call snow.
Noun + 'to wa yobenai shiro-mono' (not something that can be called...).
プロの鑑定士は、果実の叩いた音だけで、中が水っぽいかどうかを瞬時に見極める。
A professional appraiser can instantly determine if the inside is watery just by the sound of tapping the fruit.
Noun + 'dake de' (just by).
水っぽいインクで書かれた文字は、時の経過とともに薄れ、記憶の彼方へと消えていく。
Characters written with watery ink fade with the passage of time, disappearing into the far reaches of memory.
Poetic and complex sentence structure.
出汁の加減一つで、料理が水っぽくなるか、奥深い味わいになるかが決まる。
The mere adjustment of the dashi determines whether a dish becomes watery or takes on a deep, profound flavor.
Noun + 'hitotsu de' (by just one...).
水っぽい空気が立ち込め、遠くの山々が霞んで見える。
The 'watery' (misty/damp) air hangs thick, and the distant mountains appear hazy.
Describing atmosphere/weather.
彼の政治理念は、大衆に迎合するあまり、水っぽく希釈されたものになってしまった。
His political ideology, in an attempt to cater to the masses, has become something watery and diluted.
Metaphorical use in political discourse.
水っぽさを嫌う日本の美意識は、建築から食文化に至るまで一貫している。
The Japanese aesthetic, which dislikes 'wateriness' (lack of concentration/purity), is consistent from architecture to food culture.
Noun + 'kara ... ni itaru made' (from ... to ...).
常见搭配
常用短语
— The taste is watery/diluted.
このコーヒーは味が水っぽい。
— The inside is watery (common for fruit or fried food).
この唐揚げは中が水っぽい。
— It's watery and not tasty (standard complaint).
水っぽくて美味しくないので、残しました。
— The snow is wet/slushy.
今日は雪が水っぽいから滑りやすい。
— It ended up becoming watery (expressing regret).
煮込みすぎて水っぽくなってしまった。
— Looks good but is watery.
このイチゴ、見た目はいいが水っぽい。
— I hate watery things.
水っぽいのは嫌だから、しっかり焼いて。
— To remove the wateriness (common in cooking).
塩を振って野菜の水っぽさを抜く。
— A watery/slushy feeling.
水っぽい感触の泥。
— A weak or insincere bow (rare metaphorical use).
彼は水っぽいお辞儀をして去った。
习语与表达
— A shallow or insincere story/talk.
彼の水っぽい話には誰も耳を貸さない。
Metaphorical— A shallow, non-intimate relationship.
水っぽい付き合いはもうやめよう。
Metaphorical— A pale, weak-looking face (rare).
彼は水っぽい顔をして立っていた。
Literary— A weak-willed or 'diluted' spirit (very rare).
そんな水っぽい根性では勝てないぞ。
Slang/Informal— A transparent or weak lie.
そんな水っぽい嘘、すぐにバレるよ。
Informal— Shallow or weak sympathy.
水っぽい情けは無用だ。
Literary— Weak or poor hospitality.
水っぽいもてなしにがっかりした。
Neutral— Weak, watered-down alcohol.
この店の酒は水っぽい。
Neutral— A vague or non-committal answer.
彼女は水っぽい返事しかしない。
Neutral— A shallow or lackluster life.
水っぽい人生なんて送りたくない。
Philosophical词族
名词
动词
形容词
Summary
Use 'mizuppoi' when you want to complain that something is too watery (like a weak curry or slushy snow). Avoid using it as a compliment; for 'juicy' and 'fresh,' use 'mizumizushii' instead.
- Mizuppoi means 'watery' or 'diluted' and is an i-adjective used to describe food, weather, or textures.
- It almost always carries a negative nuance, implying that excess water has ruined the quality of something.
- Commonly used for weak soup, bland fruit, soggy vegetables, and heavy, wet snow.
- It is different from 'mizumizushii,' which is a positive word meaning fresh or juicy.
相关内容
更多food词汇
少々
B1请您稍等片刻。在菜肴中加入少许盐调味。
〜ほど
B1等了大约十分钟。 (Waited about ten minutes.)
~ほど
B1大约,左右;到...的程度;不如...那样。例如:等了大约一个小时。(一時間ほど待ちました)。累得要死。(死ぬほど疲れた)。
豊富な
B1Abundant, rich in.
ふんだんに
B1这款蛋糕<mark>ふんだんに</mark>(大量地)使用了新鲜水果。
足す
B1增加数量或补充不足的部分。例如,在汤里加点盐。
添加物
B1添加剂。指为改善食品品质和色、香、味,以及为防腐、保鲜和加工工艺的需要而加入食品中的人工合成或者天然物质。
〜てから
B1做完某事之后。'吃完饭后刷牙。'
~てから
B1使用“~te kara”表示在做完某事“之后”。例如:“吃完饭后,我出门。”
熟成させる
B1将牛肉熟成40天,可以使肉质更加鲜美。