Meaning and Usage
The verb こぼす primarily means "to spill" or "to drop something accidentally," such as liquid or small items. It is often used when something unintentionally falls out of a container or off a surface.
Figurative Use
Besides the literal meaning, こぼす is also commonly used to express "complaining" or "grumbling." When someone "不満をこぼす" (fuman o kobosu), they are voicing dissatisfaction or complaints.
Common Collocations
- ジュースをこぼす: to spill juice (literal spilling)
- 不満をこぼす: to complain or grumble (figurative use)
- 涙をこぼす: to shed tears
Register and Politeness
こぼす is a casual to neutral verb and can be used in everyday conversation. For polite speech, use the polite form こぼします.
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse こぼす with こぼれる, which is the intransitive form meaning "to spill out" by itself. こぼす is transitive and requires a direct object (something spilled).