Onomatopoeia – Difference between “ぼろぼろ” and “ぽろぽろ”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “ぼろぼろ” and “ぽろぽろ”
2. ぼろぼろ
3. ぽろぽろ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment
Q: Can you explain the difference between “ぽろぽろ” and “ぼろぼろ”?
A: “ぼろぼろ” describes the state of large particles or objects breaking apart, while “ぽろぽろ” describes small particles or tears quietly falling down. Let’s take a closer look.
ぼろぼろ
[Meaning]
① The condition or appearance of something that is severely torn or damaged
② The state of relatively heavy or large objects continuously falling down
[Part of Speech]
na-adjective, noun, adverb
[Examples]
このかばんは、長年使っているのでぼろぼろです。（①）
This bag is falling apart because I’ve been using it for so many years.
そんなぼろぼろな財布、捨てたらどう？（①）
How about throwing away that worn-out wallet?
古い屋根から瓦がぼろぼろと落ちてきました。（②）
Old tiles fell one after another from the old roof.
“ぼろぼろ” is a word that describes the visual or physical state of something that is torn or damaged.
[Examples]
ぼろぼろのかばんだけど、大事なものなんです。
It’s a worn-out bag, but it’s something really important to me.
あそこにあったぼろぼろの家、壊されるらしいよ。
That old, run-down house over there? I heard it’s going to be torn down.
Additionally, “ぼろぼろ” can also describe a psychological state of being extremely exhausted or emotionally hurt.
[Examples]
バブルのとき、サラリーマンはぼろぼろになるまで働いたそうです。
I heard that during the bubble economy, office workers worked themselves to the bone until they were completely worn out.
⇒ This expresses a state of being thoroughly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
ひどいことを言われて、心がぼろぼろになってしまいました。
After being told something terrible, my heart was shattered.
⇒ This conveys a state of being deeply hurt emotionally.
Moreover, when describing someone sobbing heavily with large tears streaming down their face, you can use the expression “ぼろぼろ泣く.”
This “ぼろぼろ” emphasizes the size and intensity of the tears, creating an impression of tears falling down in large, continuous clumps.
[Examples]
大事な試合に負けたことが悔しくて、ぼろぼろ泣きました。
I was so frustrated after losing the important match that I ended up sobbing uncontrollably.
ぽろぽろ
[Meaning]
① The state of something that was once a single mass losing moisture and becoming crumbly, or breaking into smaller pieces
② The state of tears or small, grain-like objects quietly falling continuously
[Part of Speech]
Adverb
[Examples]
このクッキーは、手で割るとぽろぽろと崩れます。（①）
This cookie crumbles into pieces when you break it with your hands.
お菓子の袋を開けたら、ぽろぽろとこぼれました。（②）
When I opened the bag of snacks, they spilled out in little bits.
悲しい話を聞いて、涙がぽろぽろと出てきた。（②）
I heard a sad story, and tears started falling down quietly.
“ぽろぽろ” is a word that mainly describes the state of something that was once in a single mass drying out and becoming crumbly or breaking into smaller pieces.
[Examples]
ケーキのスポンジが乾燥して、ぽろぽろになりました。
The cake sponge dried out and crumbled into pieces.
クッキーをかじったら、ぽろぽろと崩れてしまいました。
When I took a bite of the cookie, it fell apart into crumbs.
Additionally, “ぽろぽろ” can also be used to describe the quiet, continuous falling of small grains or tears.
[Examples]
彼女は思い出を語りながら、ぽろぽろと涙を流しました。
She spoke of her memories, tears quietly streaming down her face.
Let’s Compare
“ぼろぼろ” describes the state of large particles or objects continuously falling down.
On the other hand, “ぽろぽろ” describes the state of small, grain-like particles quietly falling one after another.
Let’s look at the following example sentences and think about how the impressions they create differ.
[Examples]
① 映画を見て感動したら、涙がぼろぼろと出てきました。
② 映画を見て感動したら、涙がぽろぽろと出てきました。
① describes large tears flowing and suggests the person is sobbing heavily.
② gives the impression of small tears gently and continuously falling down.
Summary
| Meaning | |
|---|---|
| ぼろぼろ | ① The condition or appearance of something that is severely torn or damaged ② The state of relatively heavy or large objects continuously falling down |
| ぽろぽろ | ① The state of something that was once a single mass losing moisture and becoming crumbly, or breaking into smaller pieces ② The state of tears or small, grain-like objects quietly falling continuously |
Similer Articles
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