けばい

けばい
i-adjective
gaudy
informalcolloquialappearanceevaluation
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentけばいけばくない
Pastけばかったけばくなかった
て formけばくてけばくなくて
Adverbialけばく—
Conditional ばけばければけばくなければ
Conditional たらけばかったらけばくなかったら
1. gaudy
flashy; garish; excessively showy or loud (in appearance)
けばい化粧(けしょう)だ。
That's heavy/gaudy makeup.
あの服(ふく)はちょっとけばい。
Those clothes are a bit flashy.
けばい色(いろ)のネイルはオフィスには向(む)かない。
Flashy nail colors aren't appropriate for the office.

けばい is an informal i-adjective describing something excessively flashy or garish.

Etymology

  • Likely related to 毛羽(けば) (fuzz, fluff), suggesting something overly fluffy/busy

Usage

  • Has a negative or critical nuance
  • Describes excessive, tasteless showiness
  • Commonly used for makeup, clothing, or decorations

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 派手(はで): Flashy, showy (can be positive or neutral)
  • けばけばしい: More emphatic version (very gaudy)
  • けばい: Specifically negative, implies tastelessness

Variant

  • けばけばしい is a more emphatic form meaning "very gaudy"

Register: Informal. Colloquial and mildly critical.

Related Words

Compare: 派手(はで) (Flashy, showy)
general
Added 2026.1.21 20:32 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07500/07847_kebai