ぺらぺら

ぺらぺら
adverb, na-adjective
fluent; thin; flipping
1. fluent; fluently
Describes speaking a language smoothly and naturally, often used for foreign language ability.
(かれ)英語(えいご)がぺらぺらだ。
He is fluent in English.
ぺらぺらと日本語(にほんご)(はな)す。
To speak Japanese fluently.
2. thin; flimsy
Describes something that is thin and lacking substance.
この(かみ)はぺらぺらで(やぶ)れやすい。
This paper is thin and tears easily.
3. flipping; chattering
The sound or action of pages flipping or someone talking too much.

ぺらぺら is an onomatopoeic word with multiple meanings depending on context.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • ()がぺらぺら: fluent in (language)
  • ぺらぺら(はな)す: to speak fluently; to chatter
  • ぺらぺらの(かみ): thin/flimsy paper

USAGE NOTES:

  • The 'fluent' sense is most common in everyday conversation
  • Can have a negative nuance when describing someone who talks too much
  • The 'thin' sense is often slightly critical