Japanese

Adverb

パラパラ ‎(hiragana ぱらぱら, romaji parapara)

1. (onomatopoeia): evoking the sound made by a rain or leaves falling: sprinkling, clattering

   雨 (あめ)がパラパラと降 (ふ)っている。

   Ame ga parapara to futteiru.

   There's a bit of rain. / It is sprinkling.

2. (onomatopoeia): evoking the sound made by many pages turning quickly: riffling

   パラパラとページをめくりながら独 (ひと)り言 (ごと)していた。

   Parapara to pēji o mekurinagara hitorigoto shiteita.

   He muttered to himself as he flipped / riffled through the pages.

Related terms

• ばらばら, バラバラ ‎(barabara)

Adjective

パラパラ ‎(-na inflection, hiragana ぱらぱら, romaji parapara)

1. (onomatopoeia): evoking the image of disordered hair