べとべと

べとべと
adverb, onomatopoeia
sticky; gooey; tacky
informaldescriptiveonomatopoeia
1. sticky; gooey; tacky
Describes a surface coated with something thick that clings — oil, sweat, syrup, glue. Almost always unpleasant: the speaker wants to wash it off.
手(て)がべとべとする。
My hands are sticky.
汗(あせ)で体(からだ)がべとべとになった。
I got all sticky with sweat.
油(あぶら)でべとべとになったコンロを、洗剤(せんざい)でこすって落(お)とした。
I scrubbed the grease-caked stove clean with detergent.

Used with する (to feel sticky), になる (to become sticky), and だ / の before a noun: べとべとの手(て).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • ねばねば: sticky and stringy — of natto or grated yam, stretching into threads
  • ぬるぬる: slimy and slippery — wet and hard to grip, not adhesive
  • べたべた: sticky — nearly the same; also used of clinging to a person

Related Words

Compare: ねばねば (sticky and stringy)
Compare: ぬるぬる (slimy and slippery)
Compare: べたべた (sticky)
Compare: どろどろ (muddy)
general
Added 2026.8.10 9:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30500/30536_betobeto