タピオカ
tapioka[ta̠pʲio̞ka̠]
The English phrase boba translates to Japanese as タピオカ (tapioka).
In Japan, the term refers to the chewy tapioca pearls found in bubble tea. To refer to the actual beverage itself, Japanese speakers typically say タピオカミルクティー (tapioca milk tea).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is written in Katakana, which is the Japanese script used for loanwords from foreign languages.
How do you pronounce it?
tapioka
Did you know?
- In Japan, タピオカ became such a massive cultural trend around 2019 that it spawned a specific slang term, タピ活 (tapi-katsu), meaning 'tapioca hunting' or the activity of visiting popular bubble tea shops.
- The name タピオカ traces its roots all the way back to the Old Tupi word 'tapi'oka'.
- In Japanese culinary descriptions, the appeal of タピオカ is often described as モチモチ (mochi-mochi), a word that compares the pearls to traditional rice cakes.
Examples in context
- この飲み物にはタピオカが入っています。This drink contains tapioca.
- 今日は友達とタピオカドリンクを飲みに行きます。Today, I am going out with my friends to drink tapioca drinks.
- 東京で美味しいタピオカを飲みたいです。I want to drink delicious tapioca in Tokyo.
- タピオカをたくさん入れてください。Tapioka o takusan irete kudasai.Please put a lot of boba in it.
- このタピオカはとてももちもちしています。Kono tapioka wa totemo mochimochi shite imasu.This boba is very chewy.
- タピオカミルクティーを飲みませんか？Tapioka miruku ti o nomimasen ka?Would you like to drink boba milk tea?
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are at a cafe deciding what to order.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは、タピオカは好きですか？Himari-san wa, tapioka wa suki desu ka?Himari, do you like boba?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、大好きです！Hai, daisuki desu!Yes, I love it!
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、タピオカティーを頼みましょう。Jaa, tapioka ti o tanomimashou.Then, let's order boba tea.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。楽しみです！Ii desu ne. Tanoshimi desu!That sounds good. I'm looking forward to it!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry タピオカ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries タピオカ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
