Translation guide
Describes liquid flowing slowly in a thin stream or drop by drop. Focuses on the manner of movement rather than a single Japanese word.
To describe a small, steady flow of liquid, like water from a tap or a stream.
An onomatopoeic adverb describing a thin, weak, continuous flow of liquid. Often used with verbs like 流れる (nagareru) or 出る (deru).
水がちょろちょろと流れている。
Water is trickling out.
水道の水をちょろちょろ出しっぱなしにしないで。
Don't leave the tap trickling.
Literally 'flow thinly'. A descriptive phrase for a thin stream of liquid.
小川が細く流れている。
A small stream is trickling along.
Katakana version of ちょろちょろ, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
水がチョロチョロ出てるだけだよ。
The water's just trickling out.
To describe liquid dripping slowly, drop by drop.
Onomatopoeia for liquid dripping in distinct drops, heavier than たらたら. Often used with 落ちる (ochiru) or 垂れる (tareru).
蛇口から水がぽたぽた落ちている。
Water is trickling from the faucet drop by drop.
Onomatopoeia for a slow, thin, continuous drip or trickle, often implying a slightly messy or annoying flow.
Verb meaning 'to drip' or 'to trickle down', often used in literary or formal contexts.
To describe a small number of people or things arriving or leaving gradually.
Adverb meaning 'in small numbers' or 'one by one', often used for people arriving or things happening gradually.
客がぽつぽつと集まり始めた。
Customers began to trickle in.
Adverb meaning 'here and there' or 'sporadically', used when something appears in small, scattered numbers.
To describe news, donations, or funds coming in gradually.
Phrase meaning 'to come in little by little'. A natural way to express trickling of non-physical things.
寄付金が少しずつ入ってきている。
Donations are trickling in.
情報が少しずつ入ってきた。
Information trickled in.
Can also be used for information or reports arriving sporadically.
汗がたらたら流れている。
Sweat is trickling down.
岩から水が滴っている。
Water is trickling from the rock.
会場に人がちらほらと入ってきた。
People trickled into the venue.
結果がぽつぽつと届き始めた。
Results have started trickling in.