Japanese word

こぼす

Pronunciation

Romajikobosu

Meaning

  • verbspill

Example

床にジュースをこぼします。yuka ni jū su o ko bo shi ma su

I spill juice on the floor.

Illustration for こぼす (spill)

More examples

ジュースをこぼします。jū su o ko bo shi ma su

I spill my juice.

熱いお茶をテーブルにこぼしてしまいました。atsu i o cha o tē bu ru ni ko bo shi te shi ma i ma shi ta

I spilled hot tea on the table.

Core concept

Expresses the unintended loss of what someone is holding or containing, with liquid and tears as common examples.

Common phrases

  • 水をこぼすmizu o ko bo su

    spill water

  • 飲み物をこぼすno mi mono o ko bo su

    spill a drink

Similar words

漏らすmorasu: To let liquid or another substance escape through a gap or opening.
垂らすtarasu: To cause liquid to drip from something or from the body.

Definition in Japanese

液体や涙を流れ出させたり、持っている物を誤って落としたりする。eki tai ya namida o naga re da sa se ta ri mo tte i ru mono o ayama tte o to shi ta ri su ru

Word origin

こぼす (kobosu) is a native Japanese verb whose precise formation is uncertain; it belongs to the historical word family of こぼれる (koboreru), meaning that something escapes from a container.

Usage tips

  • In English, spill can describe secrets as well as liquids, while Japanese こぼす (kobosu) commonly describes something physically escaping from a container, the eyes, or the hands.

Other meanings

  • dropverb
  • shed tearsverb

Word lists with this word