Translation guide
The English word "puff" has several distinct meanings: a short burst of air or smoke, a light pastry, a swelling, and informal terms for breath or marijuana. This guide covers the most common and useful Japanese expressions for each meaning, organized from most to least frequent for learners.
Expressing a small, quick emission of air, smoke, or a short breath.
A single puff or blast, often used for wind or blowing.
彼はろうそくを一吹きで消した。
He blew out the candle with one puff.
Onomatopoeic adverb for a short puffing sound, like blowing out air or a quick laugh.
彼はタバコの煙をプッと吐き出した。
He puffed out cigarette smoke.
Breath; can be used in contexts like "out of puff" meaning out of breath.
彼は息を切らして走ってきた。
He came running, out of puff.
To puff out, blow out, or emit in a burst.
煙突が煙を吹き出している。
The chimney is puffing out smoke.
Loanword from English, used in specific contexts like makeup puffs or short bursts of air, but less common for the action.
彼女はパフで粉をつけた。
She applied powder with a puff.
Referring to a type of pastry that puffs up when baked, like a cream puff or puff pastry.
Cream puff; a very common pastry in Japan.
シュークリームを一つください。
One cream puff, please.
Puff pastry; literally "pie dough" but used for puff pastry.
Sometimes used in names of pastries (e.g., パフパイ), but not a standalone term.
パフパイを焼いた。
I baked a puff pastry.
Describing something that is swollen or puffed up, like a body part or fabric.
Swelling, puffiness, especially from injury or allergy.
目の下の腫れが引かない。
The puffiness under my eyes won't go away.
A bulge or puff, like in clothing or a cushion.
Onomatopoeic for being puffed up or swollen tight.
Slang term for a marijuana cigarette.
Literal translation; understood but not common slang.
彼はマリファナタバコを吸っていた。
He was smoking a puff.
Loanword for a marijuana joint; more common in youth slang.
彼らはジョイントを回した。
They passed the puff around.
A soft pad used to apply powder to the skin.
Standard term for a powder puff.
パフで軽く押さえてください。
Press lightly with the puff.
Makeup puff; more specific.
化粧パフを洗った。
I washed my makeup puff.
When 'puff' means a short breath or being out of breath, do not use パフ. Use 息 (いき) or phrases like 息を切らす (to be out of breath).
腫れ (はれ) is used for medical swelling (injury, allergy), while 膨らみ (ふくらみ) is for intentional or natural bulges (clothing, cushions).
This puff pastry is flaky.
そのスカートには膨らみがある。
The skirt has a puff.
My eyes are puffy after crying.