ボブ
Bobu[bo̞bɯ̟]
The English name Bob is translated into Japanese as ボブ (Bobu).
Meaning: move (something) as though it were bobbing in water (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
Bobu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word ボブ almost exclusively refers to a 'bob cut' hairstyle rather than the action of bobbing in water.
- To describe the physical action of 'bobbing' in water, Japanese speakers typically use the word ぷかぷか, which is an onomatopoeia for floating.
- While 'Bob' is a common English name, the katakana version ボブ is treated strictly as a foreign noun and does not carry any of the 'short for Robert' associations in Japanese.
Examples in context
- ボブはかなづちだ。Bob can no more swim than a hammer can.This sentence is useful for illustrating a comparison using ボブ.Tatoeba #3416639 by arnab, translation #33260 by CP
- ボブは大丈夫なの？Is Bob OK?This sentence is useful for asking about the well-being of ボブ.Tatoeba #10990255 by small_snow, translation #10990250 by DJ_Saidez
- ボブは料理ができる。Bob can cook.This sentence is useful for stating a skill possessed by ボブ.Tatoeba #195979 by arnab, translation #33154 by CN
- こんにちは、ボブさん。私は田中です。Hello, Mr. Bob. I am Tanaka.
- 95 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are watching a small toy float in a bathtub.
- 美咲 Misaki見て、おもちゃがボブしてるよ。Mite, omocha ga bobu shiteru yo.Look, the toy is bobbing.
- 陽太 Yota本当だ、ゆっくりボブしてるね。Hontō da, yukkuri bobu shiteru ne.You're right, it's bobbing slowly.
- 美咲 Misaki水に浮いてボブするのが可愛いね。Mizu ni uite bobu suru no ga kawaii ne.It's cute how it bobs while floating in the water.
- 陽太 Yotaうん、ずっと見ていられるよ。Un, zutto mite irareru yo.Yeah, I could watch it forever.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ボブ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
