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.
Water is dripping from the faucet.
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
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.
Sweat dripped from my forehead.
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.
Onomatopoeic phrase for the sound or action of dripping, often used for water dripping slowly.
Water is dripping from the faucet.
Technical term meaning 'to drip' or 'instill', used in scientific or medical contexts.
Drip the solution drop by drop.
Describing the sound made by liquid dripping.
Referring to a medical IV drip.
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.
Drip coffee
ろうそくのろうが垂れている。
The candle wax is dripping.
雨がポツポツ降り始めた。
Rain started dripping down.
He is hospitalized and receiving an IV drip.