PUKKA-RI ぷっかり
Meanings
Describes something light floating easily on the surface of water or suspended in the air.
Examples
A rubber dinghy is bobbing gently on the water.
ゴムボートがぷっかりと水面を漂っている。
In the old days, we often used to see airships floating serenely in the sky.
昔は飛行船がぷっかりと空にいたのをよく見たものだ。
Dogmatic Opinion
PUKA-PUKA and PUKARI describe light things floating on water—in the sea, a river, or a bath—so PUKKA-RI belongs naturally to the same image.
I picture the object moving gently up and down or from side to side under the influence of waves, currents, or air.
Even though an aircraft carrier or a large ship technically floats, it would not feel PUKKA-RI to me. The word needs lightness.
Proximate Expression
light floating
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
Float lightly, bob gently, drift, and float serenely may fit. PUKKA-RI describes the light manner of floating; it does not itself mean that the object swells or puffs up.
