Translation guide
A soft, porous object used for cleaning, absorbing liquid, or bathing. In Japanese, the word スポンジ (suponji) is the most common equivalent, but specific types like 海綿 (kaimen) for natural sea sponges or たわし (tawashi) for scrubbing brushes may be used depending on context.
A soft, absorbent pad used for washing dishes, surfaces, or general cleaning.
A soft, porous item used for washing the body in the bath or shower.
A body sponge, often a soft mesh or foam puff used with soap.
A soft, porous marine animal used as a sponge for bathing or cleaning.
The biological term for sea sponge. Also used for natural sponges sold for bathing.
A light, airy cake used as a base for desserts.
The standard term for sponge cake in Japanese baking.
I baked a sponge cake.
To absorb liquid like a sponge, or to soak up information/money.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'to absorb like a sponge', used for both liquids and abstract things like knowledge.
To clean or wipe something with a sponge.
To wipe with a sponge. The most natural way to express the action.
In Japanese, たわし (tawashi) refers to a hard scrubbing brush, often made of natural fibers or plastic, used for cleaning tough stains. It is not a sponge. If you want a soft sponge, always use スポンジ.
In English, 'sponge' can mean the cake by itself, but in Japanese, スポンジ alone usually means the cleaning tool. To refer to the cake, say スポンジケーキ or スポンジ生地 (sponge dough).
I wiped the table with a sponge.
I wash my body with a body sponge.
Often refers to a washcloth or towel, but in bathing context, a 'body towel' (ボディタオル) is a long, rough cloth used like a sponge for scrubbing. Very common in Japan.
Please wash my back with the body towel.
A natural loofah sponge, made from dried gourd. Traditional and eco-friendly.
It feels good to scrub my body with a loofah.
Sponges are animals.
I use a natural sea sponge.
Natural sponge, often used to distinguish from synthetic sponges.
This natural sponge is very soft.
Short for sponge cake, used in compound words like スポンジ生地 (sponge dough).
The sponge is fluffy.
Children absorb language like a sponge.
To absorb or soak up liquid, often used for sponges or cloths.
I soaked up the water with a sponge.
Wipe the table with a sponge.
To wash with a sponge, typically for dishes.
I washed the dishes with a sponge.