1Describing something sprinkling or pattering (e.g., rain or salt), representing a light, scattered falling sound or motion.
朝方、外でぱらぱらと雨が降り始めた。
In the early morning, rain began to patter outside.
スープに塩をぱらぱらとふりかける。
I sprinkle a little salt over the soup.
屋根にぱらぱらと小さな石が当たる音がした。
There was a light pattering sound of small stones hitting the roof.
2The action of quickly flipping or riffling through pages or papers.
彼女は雑誌をぱらぱらとめくりながら、写真を探した。
She rifled through the magazine, looking for a photo.
会議の資料をぱらぱらと確認してから発言した。
He glanced through the meeting materials before speaking.
子供が絵本をぱらぱらとめくって遊んでいる。
The child is flipping through a picture book for fun.
3Describes things or people being sparse, scattered, or occurring intermittently.
観客はまだぱらぱらで、コンサートホールは空いていた。
The audience was still sparse and the concert hall was empty.
風邪が流行っているが、学校では欠席者がぱらぱらいる程度だ。
Although a cold is going around, only a few students are absent at school.
街路樹の間に家がぱらぱらと建っている。
Houses are scattered here and there among the street trees.
4Describes food (or similar substances) that is crumbly, loose, or non-sticky — for example, rice grains that are separate rather than sticky.
新米なのに意外とぱらぱらで、少し水加減が足りなかったのかもしれない。
Although it's new rice, it's unexpectedly dry and loose — perhaps not enough water was used.
このチーズは古くてぱらぱらと崩れるので、サラダに向いている。
This cheese is old and crumbly, so it's suitable for salads.
豆腐がぱらぱらしていると料理に使いにくい。
When tofu is crumbly, it's hard to use in cooking.