ぺたぺた
ぺたぺた
adverb
sticking; pattering (footsteps)
1.
sticking; pasting repeatedly
The action or sound of sticking things on surfaces.
シールをぺたぺた貼る。
To stick on stickers one after another.
手がぺたぺたする。
My hands feel sticky.
シールをぺたぺた貼った。
I stuck on stickers one after another.
2.
pattering; padding (footsteps)
The sound of light, flat footsteps, like walking barefoot.
子供がぺたぺたと歩いている。
The child is padding along with bare feet.
裸足でぺたぺた歩く。
To walk barefoot with a slapping sound.
子供がぺたぺたと走り回っている。
The child is running around with bare feet slapping.
ぺたぺた is an onomatopoeic word (擬音語) with two distinct meanings linked by the idea of flat contact.
MEANINGS:
1. Sticking/pasting: describes the repeated action or sound of pressing flat things onto surfaces. Also describes the sensation of something sticky on skin.
2. Barefoot walking: the sound of flat, bare feet slapping lightly against the floor. Evokes a casual, childlike image.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ぺたぺた貼る: to stick on repeatedly
- ぺたぺた歩く: to walk with padding footsteps
- 手がぺたぺたする: hands feel sticky
SIMILAR WORDS:
- べたべた: sticky (stronger, unpleasantly so)
- ぺたんと: with a single flat slap
- ぱたぱた: light pattering or flapping sound
The と particle is optional: both ぺたぺた貼る and ぺたぺたと貼る are natural.