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.
Sprinkle salt on the food.
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.
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.
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'.
To scatter water deliberately, such as watering plants or dampening a surface.
To scatter small solid objects like seeds, glitter, or toppings.
General verb for scattering or sowing. Used for seeds, sand, etc.
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.
I sprinkled powdered sugar on the cake.
鶏肉に小麦粉をまぶす。
Sprinkle (coat) the chicken with flour.
刻みネギを散らす。
Sprinkle chopped green onions on top.
It's sprinkling outside.
An onomatopoeic verb describing light, scattered rain or snow. Very common in weather forecasts.
It started to sprinkle.
Noun meaning 'drizzle' or very fine rain. More literary or technical than 小雨.
A fine sprinkle is falling.
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.
Sprinkling water makes it cooler.
Sprinkle flower seeds.
Means to stud or scatter decoratively, like sprinkling jewels or stars. More literary.
Stars are sprinkled across the sky.