べたべた

べたべた
adverb
sticky; clingy
1. sticky; gooey
Describes a surface or substance that is unpleasantly sticky.
手(て)が飴(あめ)でべたべたする。
My hands are sticky from candy.
汗(あせ)で肌(はだ)がべたべたしている。
My skin is sticky from sweat.
夏(なつ)は汗(あせ)で体(からだ)がべたべたして気持(きも)ち悪(わる)い。
In summer, the sweat makes your body feel unpleasantly sticky.
2. clingy; overly affectionate
Describes behavior that is excessively close or touchy, often in a way that bothers others.
カップルがべたべたしている。
The couple is being all clingy with each other.
Can have a slightly critical nuance
子(こ)どもが親(おや)にべたべた甘(あま)えている。
The child is clinging to their parent affectionately.
人前(ひとまえ)でべたべたするのはやめてほしい。
I wish they'd stop being so touchy-feely in public.

べたべた is an onomatopoeic word (擬態語(ぎたいご)) with two distinct meanings: physical stickiness and interpersonal clinginess. Both carry a negative or annoying connotation.

SENSE 1 — STICKY:

Describes unpleasant stickiness from sweat, candy, humidity, etc.

SENSE 2 — CLINGY:

Describes overly affectionate or touchy behavior, often with a critical tone.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ねばねば: sticky and stretchy (like natto or okra — neutral or positive)
  • ぬるぬる: slimy, slippery (like a wet surface)
  • べたべた specifically implies unpleasantness, unlike ねばねば which can be neutral

Related Words

Related: ねばねば (sticky and stretchy)
Related: ぬるぬる (slimy, slippery)
Related: いちゃいちゃ (flirting, lovey-dovey)
general
Added 2026.1.16 12:19 · Revised 2026.6.5 3:09
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