タピる
Meaning: To drink boba/tapioca — a verb created from タピオカ (tapioca) meaning to go get boba tea.
タピる applies the Japanese verb-making suffix -る to タピ (shortened from タピオカ, tapioca), creating a verb specifically for the act of drinking boba tea. During Japan's 2018-2019 tapioca boom, getting boba was such a frequent social activity that it warranted its own verb. It was nominated for the buzzword of the year in 2019. While the boom has cooled, the word is still understood.
Examples
- 放課後タピりに行こうよ。 放学后去タピ一下吧。Vamos a tomar boba después de clase.방과 후에 타피리(버블티 마시러) 가자.
- 最近タピってないな、久しぶりに行きたい。 最近都没タピ过了,好久没去了想喝。Hace tiempo que no tomo boba, me apetece ir.최근에 타피루 안 했네, 오랜만에 가고 싶다.
- 昨日友達とタピってきた。 昨天跟朋友去タピ了。Ayer fui a tomar boba con mis amigos.어제 친구랑 타피루 하고 왔어.
Pronunciation
/ta.pi.ɾɯ/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, social media
Tone: casual, trendy, social
✓ Do Say
- タピりに行かない? (Wanna go get boba?)要不要去タピ一下?¿Vamos a tomar boba?타피리(버블티 마시러) 갈래? (버블티 마시러 갈래?)
- 今日もタピった (Got boba again today)今天又タピ了Hoy también he tomado boba오늘도 타피루 했어 (오늘도 버블티 마셨어)
✗ Don't Say
- フォーマルな場で「タピりましょう」は不自然 (Saying タピりましょう in formal settings is unnatural — say タピオカを飲みに行きませんか instead)在正式场合说'タピりましょう'不自然——应该说タピオカを飲みに行きませんかDecir タピりましょう en contextos formales es poco natural — mejor di タピオカを飲みに行きませんか공식적인 자리에서 '타피리마쇼(タピりましょう)'는 부자연스럽다 (격식 있는 자리에서 タピりましょう라고 하면 부자연스럽다 — タピオカを飲みに行きませんか라고 해야 한다)
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing タピる conjugates like a regular -る verb: タピった (past), タピらない (negative), タピりたい (want to)
- Using it without knowing the boba boom context — the word is a cultural artifact of 2018-2019
Origin & History
Created by adding the verb suffix -る to タピ (shortened from タピオカ, tapioca). Born during Japan's tapioca boom of 2018-2019. Nominated for the 2019 Buzzword of the Year (新語・流行語大賞), reflecting the cultural significance of the boba craze.
Cultural Context
Era: 2018-2019 tapioca boom
Generation: Gen Z
Social background: Youth trend culture
Regional notes: Used across Japan. A product of Japan's massive 2019 tapioca boom, now somewhat faded but still recognised.
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