ボコボコ

Alternative writings: ぼこぼこ, ポコポコ, ぽこぽこ
Frequency:
1

onomatopoeia for burbling or bubbling (liquid making a burbling sound)

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

鍋の中でスープがボコボコと音を立てている。

The soup is making a bubbling sound in the pot.

草むらから泡がボコボコと出てきた。

Bubbles were appearing with a burbling sound from the grass.

2

onomatopoeia for a hollow or muffled sound

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

古い床板を踏むとボコボコと変な音がする。

When you step on the old floorboard, it makes a hollow, clunky sound.

3

full of holes or dents; lumpy; bumpy (surface irregularities)

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Na-Adjective

Examples

雪道がボコボコで車が揺れた。

The snowy road was bumpy and the car shook.

古いフェンスはボコボコに錆びていた。

The old fence was rusted and full of dents.

壁がボコボコになっているから塗り直しましょう。

Because the wall is lumpy, let's repaint it.

4

colloquial: to beat someone severely; the act of repeatedly hitting or kicking

NounIrregular VerbNa-AdjectiveColloquial

Examples

喧嘩で相手をボコボコにしてしまったと警察に捕まった。

He was arrested by the police for having beaten up his opponent in a fight.

子どもがおもちゃのロボットをボコボコにする遊びをしている。

The children are playing a game where they repeatedly hit the toy robot.

5

here and there; scattered or dotted around

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

庭にはボコボコと花壇が点在している。

Flower beds are dotted here and there in the garden.

ページの余白にメモがボコボコと書かれていた。

Notes were scribbled here and there in the page margins.

6

onomatopoeia for the sound of walking slowly (soft thumping sounds), like 'poko poko'

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

赤ちゃんがボコボコと床を歩く音で目が覚めた。

I woke up to the soft thumping sound of the baby walking on the floor.

古い橋をゆっくり渡るとボコボコと響く。

When you cross the old bridge slowly, it echoes with soft thumps.

Word Relationships

Synonyms
Antonym