べたべた
べたべた
adverb
sticky; clingy
1.
sticky; gooey
Describes a surface or substance that is unpleasantly sticky.
手が飴でべたべたする。
My hands are sticky from candy.
汗で肌がべたべたしている。
My skin is sticky from sweat.
夏は汗で体がべたべたして気持ち悪い。
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
子どもが親にべたべた甘えている。
The child is clinging to their parent affectionately.
人前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}) describing stickiness or clinginess.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- べたべたする: to be sticky, to be clingy
- べたべた触る: to touch repeatedly (annoyingly)
- べたべた甘える: to act clingy and spoiled
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ねばねば: sticky, gooey (like natto or okra)
- ぬるぬる: slimy, slippery