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.
コルクがポンと抜けた。
The cork popped out.
The balloon popped.
A sharper, louder pop than ポン. Often used for gunshots or loud bursting sounds.
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.
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.
I'm going to pop to the convenience store.
Literally 'show one's face', used for popping into a place or event briefly.
To drop by or stop off at a place. Slightly more formal than ちょっと行く.
Refer to pop music.
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.
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'.
This cafe is popular with young people.
Means 'is trendy' or 'is in fashion'. Used for current fads.
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.
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.
I'll have a pop, please.
Loanword for 'soda', commonly used in Japan for flavored carbonated drinks.
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.
Place something somewhere quickly or casually.
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.
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.
This singer is very popular.
This song is pop, isn't it?
パーティーにちょっと顔を出すね。
I'll pop into the party for a bit.
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.
Pop, I'm home.
I want to drink a cream soda (pop).
サイダーを買った。
I bought a pop (clear soda).
His eyes popped open in surprise.