Japanese

Alternative forms

• ポイ

Adverb

ぽい ‎(romaji poi)

1. lightly, carelessly, casually (also indicating something being thrown)

   屑箱 (くずばこ)へぽいと投 (な)げた。

   Kuzubako e poi to nageta.

   He tossed it carelessly into the wastebasket.

2. suddenly (also indicating movement away)
   • 1813, 浮世床 (Ukiyodoko), Shikitei Sanba:

     うぬひとり口 (ぐち)をきいてぽいと帰 (かえ)ったぜ

     Unu hitoriguchi o kiite poi to kaetta ze

     When he heard your muttering he -- poof -- went back home.

Usage notes

Used with the particle と (to).

Noun

ぽい ‎(romaji poi)

1. the act of lightly throwing something: tossing, chucking, especially carelessly: littering

   タバコのぽいは止 (や)めましょう。

   Tabako no poi wa yamemashō.

   Let's stop tossing cigarette butts. → Please don't litter.

Usage notes

Occasionally used on its own. More often used in compounds or as an adverb.

Derived terms

• ぽい捨て (ぽいすて, ​poi-sute): littering

References

1. ↑ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9