Translation guide
The English verb 'sprinkle' covers scattering small particles or drops, as well as light rain. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being sprinkled and how.
To scatter a small amount of dry, granular, or powdery substance over a surface.
The most common and versatile verb for sprinkling dry ingredients like salt, sugar, pepper, or sesame seeds onto food.
料理に塩を振りかける。
Sprinkle salt on the food.
ケーキに粉砂糖を振りかけた。
I sprinkled powdered sugar on the cake.
Often used when coating food with a dry ingredient by tossing or mixing, like flour or breadcrumbs. Implies a more thorough coating than 振りかける.
鶏肉に小麦粉をまぶす。
Sprinkle (coat) the chicken with flour.
Means 'to scatter' more generally. Can be used for sprinkling toppings like chopped green onions or sesame seeds, but is less specific than 振りかける.
刻みネギを散らす。
Sprinkle chopped green onions on top.
To scatter small drops of liquid, or for light rain to fall.
The most natural way to say 'it is sprinkling' (light rain). Literally 'light rain falls'.
外は小雨が降っている。
It's sprinkling outside.
An onomatopoeic verb describing light, scattered rain or snow. Very common in weather forecasts.
雨がぱらついてきた。
It started to sprinkle.
Noun meaning 'drizzle' or very fine rain. More literary or technical than 小雨.
To scatter water deliberately, such as watering plants or dampening a surface.
The standard phrase for sprinkling water, e.g., on a garden or dusty road.
庭に水をまく。
Sprinkle water on the garden.
Noun for the traditional practice of sprinkling water on the ground to cool it and settle dust in summer. Often used as 打ち水をする.
打ち水をすると涼しくなる。
Sprinkling water makes it cooler.
To scatter small solid objects like seeds, glitter, or toppings.
振りかける is for lightly scattering on top, while まぶす means to coat by tossing or rolling, often before cooking.
振りかける is only for dry particles. For rain, use 小雨が降る or ぱらつく.
霧雨が降っている。
A fine sprinkle is falling.
空に星が散りばめられている。
Stars are sprinkled across the sky.