Translation guide
The English word 'tap' covers a wide range of actions and objects. This guide focuses on the most common meanings for learners: a light touch or strike, a device for controlling liquid flow (faucet), and the action of drawing liquid. It also covers tapping on a screen or keyboard, and tapping into resources.
To hit or touch something lightly, often with a finger or a small object, producing a soft sound.
The most general and natural way to say 'tap' as a light strike. 軽く (lightly) + 叩く (hit/strike).
彼は私の肩を軽く叩いた。
He tapped me on the shoulder.
Please tap on the door.
Onomatopoeic expression for a light, rhythmic tapping sound, like knocking on a door. トントン mimics the sound.
誰かがドアをトントンと叩いた。
Someone tapped on the door.
To poke or prod lightly, often with a finger or beak. Can be used for a light, repeated tap.
彼は私の腕をつついて注意を引いた。
He tapped my arm to get my attention.
A device for controlling the flow of liquid, especially water, from a pipe.
The standard word for a water faucet or tap. Literally 'snake mouth'.
蛇口をひねって水を出してください。
Please turn on the tap.
蛇口から水がポタポタ漏れている。
The tap is dripping.
A slightly more casual or old-fashioned word for a water tap, often used in daily conversation. Derived from Dutch 'kraan'.
カランを閉めて。
Turn off the tap.
A technical term for a water faucet or valve, often used in plumbing or product descriptions.
To draw liquid from a container, such as a keg or tree, often using a tap or spigot.
General verb for pouring liquid. When used for tapping a keg, it implies drawing the liquid out.
ビールをジョッキに注いだ。
He tapped beer into a mug.
Literally 'to take out from the tap'. Used when emphasizing the action of dispensing from a tap.
ワインを樽の蛇口から出した。
They tapped wine from the barrel.
To press a touchscreen, key, or button lightly and quickly.
The loanword 'tap' used as a suru-verb. Standard for touchscreen interactions.
アイコンをタップしてください。
Please tap the icon.
画面をタップするとアプリが起動します。
Tap the screen to launch the app.
Literally 'press lightly'. Can be used for physical buttons or keys, but less common for touchscreens.
ボタンを軽く押してください。
Tap the button lightly.
To make use of a source of energy, knowledge, or money that already exists.
To utilize or make effective use of something. Common for tapping into resources or skills.
彼の経験を活用すべきだ。
We should tap into his experience.
To use or exploit. Slightly more neutral than 活用, can imply simply using something available.
新しい市場を利用する。
Tap into new markets.
To draw out or extract. Used when tapping into hidden potential or resources.
While 叩く can mean both 'tap' and 'knock', adding 軽く (lightly) or using onomatopoeia like トントン clarifies the lightness. Without it, 叩く can imply a harder hit.
Both mean faucet. 蛇口 is standard and understood everywhere. カラン is more casual and may sound slightly old-fashioned or regional, but is common in daily speech.
This tap has an automatic sensor.
Think of ways to tap into his talent.