How to say "drip" in Japanese

• 滴しずくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe common noun for a drop of liquid, such as water: use it when 'drip' means the drop itself. To describe liquid dripping as an action, you need a verb instead.
  濡ぬれたタオルから滴しずくが垂たれている。↗

  Water is dripping from the wet towel.
• ドリップ
  nounA katakana loanword that simply transliterates 'drip'; it is less common, and for describing liquid actually dripping the native 滴る or 滴 is usually the better choice.
• 滴るしたたる
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb to use when 'drip' is an action: liquid dripping, dropping or trickling down drop by drop. Though listed as less common, it is the usual choice for the verb sense.
• 滴下てきか
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA Sino-Japanese noun for dripping or dropping, also distilling; it has a technical, scientific feel and is seldom the word you want for everyday 'drip' — for the action, 滴る is the usual choice.
  インキ補充ほじゅう瓶びんのキャップを外はずし、スポイトでインキを吸い上すいあげ、マーカーの吸収きゅうしゅう体たいへ適量てきりょう、滴下てきかしてください。↗

  Remove the cap from the ink refill bottle, fill the dropper with ink, and drip an appropriate amount onto the marker's core.
• ポタリ
  adverb (with と)An onomatopoeic mimetic for the plop of a drop falling; it conveys dripping drop by drop in a vivid, sensory way rather than naming the drop or the action neutrally.

Use the noun 滴 for a drop of water and the verb 「滴る」 for liquid dripping; 「ドリップ」 is the katakana loanword, 滴下 a Sino-Japanese noun, and 「ポタリ」 a mimetic for drop-by-drop falling.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 滴しずくdrop (e.g. of water)
• ドリップdrip
• 滴るしたたるto drip
• 滴下てきかdrip
• ぽたりdrip
• 滴らすしたたらすto dribble
• 垂れるたれるto drip
• 水切りみずきりcutwater (of a ship)