Translation guide
Describes something containing too much water, thin, or lacking substance. Covers literal liquids, food texture, and figurative weakness.
Describing a substance, mixture, or ground that has excess water, making it thin or runny.
The most common and versatile word for 'watery' in the sense of containing too much water. Used for food, drinks, and other substances.
This soup is watery.
I don't like watery coffee.
Literally 'has a lot of moisture'. A more neutral, descriptive phrase. Suitable for both positive and negative contexts.
This fruit is very watery/juicy.
Similar to 水分が多い but slightly more colloquial. Often used for food.
This vegetable is watery.
Describing a liquid or semi-liquid food that lacks thickness or body.
Means 'thin' or 'weak'. Used for watery drinks like tea or coffee, or thin sauces. Implies lack of flavor or substance.
Onomatopoeic word for a thin, watery consistency. Often used for sauces, soups, or drinks that should be thicker. Casual.
This miso soup is watery, isn't it?
Literally 'lacks thickness/viscosity'. Used when a dish is expected to have a thick texture but is watery.
This sauce is watery (lacks thickness).
Describing eyes that are full of tears, or a pale, washed-out color.
Describes eyes that are moist or brimming with tears, often from emotion. Can be poetic.
Her eyes were watery with tears.
Means 'teary' or 'on the verge of tears'. More direct than 潤んだ.
He spoke in a watery/teary voice.
Means 'light blue' or 'pale blue'. Can be used for a watery color, but is not directly 'watery' in the sense of weak color.
She has pale blue/watery eyes.
Describing something abstract like an argument, writing, or personality that is weak or diluted.
Also used figuratively for weak content, shallow arguments, or lack of depth. Same word as for thin liquids.
His explanation is watery/thin in content.
Means 'diluted' or 'watered down'. Often used for reports, data, or stories that have been padded with unnecessary content.
That report is watery/padded content.
Means 'lacks impact/force'. Can describe a watery performance or weak impression.
His performance was watery/lacked impact.
水っぽい focuses on excess water content, often negative for food texture. 薄い focuses on lack of concentration (flavor, color, density) and can be used figuratively for weak content. For drinks, 薄い is more natural when meaning 'weak' (e.g., weak coffee).
This soup is watery (too much water).
This coffee is watery/weak.
水っぽい is not used for teary eyes. Use 潤んだ or 涙っぽい instead. 水っぽい目 would mean eyes that look like they contain too much water in a medical sense, not emotional tears.