ポチポチ

Alternative writings: ぽちぽち
Frequency:
1

Sound or appearance of small drops splattering or speckling (e.g. raindrops or splashes).

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

窓にポチポチと雨粒が当たる音がして目が覚めた。

I woke up to the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the window.

フライパンに油を落とすと、ポチポチと音がする。

When I drop oil into the frying pan, it makes a popping/pattering sound.

昼過ぎから空が曇り、ポチポチと小さな雨が降り始めた。

The sky clouded over in the afternoon and small spots of rain began to fall.

2

Doing something little by little; gradually, step by step.

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

引っ越しの準備はポチポチやっているから、週末には終わるはずだ。

I'm packing little by little, so it should be finished by the weekend.

資料作成はポチポチ進めているので、急ぎでなければ大丈夫です。

I'm making progress on the materials bit by bit, so it's fine if it's not urgent.

庭の手入れは毎日ポチポチやると楽だよ。

If you tend the garden little by little every day, it's easy.

3

Soon; shortly—an informal way to indicate something will happen in a little while.

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

もうすぐ終わるから、ポチポチ戻ってきていいよ。

I'll be done soon, so you can come back shortly.

ポチポチ集まってくるだろうから、席を取って待っておこう。

People will arrive shortly, so let's save seats and wait.

会議はポチポチ始まるから、資料を確認しておいて。

The meeting will start soon, so check the documents.

4

Clicking or tapping sounds/actions (e.g., pressing buttons or keys lightly and repeatedly).

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Onomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

パソコンのマウスをポチポチして資料をめくった。

I clicked the mouse and flipped through the documents.

子どもがリモコンのボタンをポチポチ押して遊んでいる。

The child is pressing the remote's buttons one after another.

スマホをポチポチ操作するだけで、注文が完了した。

With just a few taps on the phone, the order was completed.

5

Dots; small spots (used as a noun, e.g. describing a pattern or speckling).

Noun

Examples

この布は白地に小さなポチポチの柄が入っている。

This fabric has small dotted patterns on a white background.

写真にポチポチと傷がついている部分が見える。

You can see spots of damage (small dots) on the photo.

キャンドルの火が揺れて、壁にポチポチと影ができた。

The candle flame flickered and small shadows dotted the wall.

6

Used (in some contexts) as a noun referring to ditto marks or small repetition marks (a less common, somewhat colloquial/old-fashioned use).

Noun

Examples

名簿の省略欄にポチポチと書かれていて、同じ内容が続いていることがわかる。

The roster had ditto marks, indicating the same content continues.

手書きのメモで、前の行と同じならポチポチで済ませた。

In my handwritten notes, I used ditto marks to indicate repetition from the previous line.