ぺたぺた

adverb

sticking; pattering (footsteps)

descriptive

1. sticking; pasting repeatedly

The action or sound of sticking things on surfaces.

シールをぺたぺた貼(は)る。

To stick on stickers one after another.

手(て)がぺたぺたする。

My hands feel sticky.

シールをぺたぺた貼(は)った。

I stuck on stickers one after another.

2. pattering; padding (footsteps)

The sound of light, flat footsteps, like walking barefoot.

子供(こども)がぺたぺたと歩(ある)いている。

The child is padding along with bare feet.

裸足(はだし)でぺたぺた歩(ある)く。

To walk barefoot with a slapping sound.

子供(こども)がぺたぺたと走(はし)り回(まわ)っている。

The child is running around with bare feet slapping.

ぺたぺた is an onomatopoeic word (擬音語(ぎおんご)) with two distinct meanings linked by the idea of flat contact.

Usage

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(は)る: to stick on repeatedly
ぺたぺた歩(ある)く: to walk with padding footsteps
手(て)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(は)る and ぺたぺたと貼(は)る are natural.

Related Words

Related: べたべた (sticky (stronger))

Related: ぱたぱた (pattering, flapping)

Compare: ぺたんと (with a flat plop)

general

Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.9.30 14:58

05000/05376_petapeta