泡・沫|あわawa[2]odaka (tail-high)
あぶくabuku
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Which spelling to use
泡泡 is the more common written form. Beginners should use 泡 when writing this word.
沫沫 is a less common written variant of 泡. Beginners should generally choose 泡 instead when writing the word.
Definitions
- nounbubble; foam; froth; suds; lather; head (on beer)
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym気泡きほうNeutralBubbles in a liquid or solid, as in 「ガラスの気泡」; leans toward scientific description.
- SynonymバブルNeutralA loanword for bubbles or the bubble economy; the economic sense is the more common of the two.
- Synonym水泡すいほうWrittenFoam on the water's surface; mostly seen in 「水泡に帰す」, an idiom for efforts coming to nothing.
- Synonym泡沫うたかたWrittenRead 「うたかた」, a literary word for something fleeting or ephemeral, as in 「うたかたの恋」; not for everyday foam.
Use 「泡」 for foam or bubbles in general. Choose 「気泡」 for bubbles in a liquid or solid, 「うたかた」 for something fleeting, 「バブル」 for the bubble economy, and 「水泡に帰す」 for efforts that come to nothing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
