ポンポン蒸じょう気き

noun

pop-pop boat; toy steam boat

A small toy boat propelled by a simple steam engine, often made from a tin can or similar material. The name is onomatopoeic from the popping sound of the engine.

• 子こ供どもの頃ころ、ポンポン蒸じょう気きで遊あそんだ思おもい出でがある。

  I have memories of playing with a pop-pop boat when I was a child.

• ポンポン蒸じょう気きは、ろうそくの熱ねつで動うごくおもちゃの船ふねだ。

  A pop-pop boat is a toy boat that moves using the heat of a candle.

noun

steam passenger launch

Original meaning; refers to a small steam-powered passenger boat, now largely historical. The toy boat sense derives from this.

• 明めい治じ時じ代だい、ポンポン蒸じょう気きは港みなとでよく見みられた。

  In the Meiji era, steam passenger launches were a common sight in harbors.