Translation guide
The English word "sprinkling" can refer to a light scattering of small particles (like salt or rain), a small amount or number of something, or the action of sprinkling. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these meanings.
Describing a light, scattered distribution of small things like salt, sugar, rain, or decorations.
Transitive verb meaning to sprinkle something over a surface, often used for salt, sugar, or powder.
料理に塩を振りかける。
Sprinkle salt on the food.
Transitive verb meaning to scatter or sprinkle things loosely, often used for decorations or small items.
テーブルに花びらを散らす。
Scatter flower petals on the table.
Transitive verb meaning to scatter or sprinkle, often used for seeds, water, or salt. Can be written as 撒く.
庭に水をまく。
Sprinkle water on the garden.
Onomatopoeic adverb describing a light, scattered sprinkling or falling of small things like rain or grains.
雨がパラパラと降り始めた。
A light sprinkling of rain began to fall.
Referring to a small quantity or a few scattered instances of something.
Means 'a small amount of', used for both countable and uncountable things.
少量の砂糖を加える。
Add a sprinkling of sugar.
Means 'a few' or 'a little', emphasizing scarcity.
わずかな希望が残っている。
There is a sprinkling of hope left.
Adverb meaning 'here and there' or 'sparsely', often used for people or things appearing in small numbers.
The act of scattering something lightly.
振りかける implies a shaking motion to sprinkle fine particles (salt, powder), while まく is broader and can be used for scattering seeds, water, or even salt by hand.
Avoid directly translating 'a sprinkling of' with 振りかけ. Instead, use 少量の or わずかな for small amounts, or ちらほら for sparse presence.
会場にはちらほらと人がいた。
There was a sprinkling of people at the venue.
庭に散水する。
Sprinkle water on the garden.