POTTA-RI ぽったり
Meanings
Describes the light sound or manner of a single drop, small object, or soft little mass falling gently.
Examples
A drop of fountain-pen ink fell from the nib and landed on the manuscript.
万年筆のインクがペン先からぽったりと落ちて、原稿についた。
Eating the rice ball reminded me of home, and a single tear dropped from my eye.
おにぎりを食べたら、ふるさとを思い出して、涙がぽったり出た。
Dogmatic Opinion
I picture the one last drop that falls from a faucet after you have completely turned it off.
If there were several drops, it would become POTA-POTA or POTARI-POTARI.
There is no force behind the fall. Gravity simply takes over, and the quantity is extremely small.
Perhaps the fact that I am paying enough attention to notice this one tiny falling drop means I am already in a slightly sentimental state of mind.
Proximate Expression
drip
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
A single drop fell, drop softly, and fall gently in one drop are natural. POTTA-RI is about a very small quantity falling without force. Do not add meanings such as “plump” or “thick” unless the actual object in context requires them.
