How to say "spill" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive verb: the liquid or contents themselves spill, overflow, or fall out of a container, as when a drink tips over. Its transitive partner is こぼす.
- godan verb, transitive verbThe transitive counterpart of こぼれる: someone spills or drops something, such as a drink; it is also the verb for shedding tears.
- 垂らすたらすgodan verb, transitive verbIts main sense is to dribble — to let liquid trickle down — and 'spill' is only a marginal gloss here. For spilling a drink or its contents, こぼす is the word you want, not this.
- 転落てんらくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA noun for a fall, tumble, or plunge; its 'spill' is the English sense of taking a spill — a fall, not liquid spilling.
- 流すながすgodan verb, transitive verbTo drain, pour, or let liquid flow or run. It describes making liquid move, not liquid escaping by accident, so it is seldom the word you want for spilling something.
For liquid escaping a container, choose 「こぼれる」 (it spills or overflows) or 「こぼす」 (you spill it); 「垂らす」 is for dribbling, 「流す」 for draining or pouring, and 転落 means a fall or tumble, not a liquid spill.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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