タピオカ
tapioka[ta̠pʲio̞ka̠]
タピオカ (tapioka) is the Japanese word for tapioca.
The word refers to the starchy food derived from cassava. In Japan, the term is most commonly used to describe the chewy pearls found in bubble tea, which is often called tapioca tea or tapioca milk tea.
Meaning: starchy food from cassava (noun)
Which one should you use?
タピオカ is the standard term, while タピ is an abbreviated version and タピちゃん is a more endearing form.
How do you pronounce it?
tapioka
Did you know?
- The word タピオカ is a loanword that traveled from the indigenous Tupi language of South America, through Portuguese, and finally into Japanese.
- The slang term タピる (tapiru) was used by Japanese teenagers to describe the act of 'going to drink tapioca tea', treating the food as a verb.
- In Japanese pop culture, the term タピ活 (tapi-katsu) combines タピオカ with the word for 'activity', describing the hobby of visiting bubble tea cafes with friends.
Examples in context
- タピオカ・プディングが大好きなんです。I love tapioca pudding.This sentence shows how to express a love for a dish containing タピオカ.Tatoeba #2041101 by bunbuku, translation #485819 by adjusting
- 私はタピオカミルクティーが好きです。I love tapioca milk tea.
- タピオカスムージーを作っていただけますか？Could you please make a tapioca smoothie?
- タピオカはモチモチしています。Tapioka wa mochimochi shite imasu.The tapioca is chewy.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are walking through a shopping mall.
- 陽太 Yota美咲、タピオカを飲みに行かない？Misaki, tapioka o nomi ni ikanai?Misaki, do you want to go drink some tapioca?
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね！私も飲みたかったです。Ii desu ne! Watashi mo nomitakatta desu.That sounds great! I wanted to drink some too.
- 陽太 Yotaあそこに新しいお店があるよ。Asoko ni atarashii omise ga aru yo.There is a new shop over there.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ。早速行きましょう！Hontou da. Sassoku ikimashou!You're right. Let's go right now!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tapioca” translations and entries 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
