ベタベタ

ベ

タ

ベ

タ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

ベタベタする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	ベタベタする	ベタベタしない
Polite	ベタベタします	ベタベタしません
Past polite	ベタベタしました	ベタベタしませんでした
Past	ベタベタした	ベタベタしなかった
Te-form	ベタベタして	ベタベタしないで
Desire	ベタベタしたい	ベタベタしたくない
Potential	ベタベタできる	ベタベタできない
Passive	ベタベタされる	ベタベタされない
Causative	ベタベタさせる	ベタベタさせない
Causative passive	ベタベタさせられる	ベタベタさせられない
Volitional	ベタベタしよう
Polite volitional	ベタベタしましょう
Imperative	ベタベタしろ	ベタベタするな
Conditional	ベタベタすれば	ベタベタしなければ
Tara conditional	ベタベタしたら	ベタベタしなかったら

Meanings

na-adjective, adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

sticky; tacky

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a surface that feels sticky or tacky to the touch, often unpleasantly so. Can be used as an adverb, adjectival noun, or with する.

汗あせで手てがベタベタする。
My hands feel sticky from sweat.
このシロップはベタベタだ。
This syrup is sticky.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

thickly; heavily

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Used when something is applied in a thick, heavy layer, such as paint, cream, or makeup. Often takes the と particle.

壁かべにペンキをベタベタと塗ぬった。
I painted the wall thickly.
彼かの女じょはファンデーションをベタベタに塗ぬる。
She applies foundation heavily.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

all over; plastered

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes the action of pasting, stamping, or sticking things all over a surface, often haphazardly or excessively. Takes the と particle.

ノートにシールをベタベタ貼はった。
I stuck stickers all over my notebook.
壁かべにポスターをベタベタと貼はらないで。
Don't plaster posters all over the wall.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

clingy; all over each other; flirting

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a person who clings to someone, follows them around, or engages in overly affectionate or flirtatious behavior. Often used for couples being overly touchy-feely in public. Can be used adverbially or with する.

あのカップルはいつもベタベタしていて、見みていて恥はずかしい。
That couple is always all over each other; it's embarrassing to watch.
彼かの女じょは彼かれにベタベタくっついて離はなれない。
She clings to him and won't leave his side.

na-adjective

clichéd; hackneyed

colloquial

Colloquial use describing something as trite, overused, or lacking originality, such as a joke, story, or design. Related to べた (sense 3).

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉がベタベタするfor something to feel sticky/tacky
汗あせで手てがベタベタする。
My hands are sticky with sweat.
〈物もの〉をベタベタ(と)塗ぬるto apply something in a thick, heavy layer
彼かの女じょはクリームをベタベタと塗ぬった。
She slathered on the cream thickly.
〈物もの〉をベタベタ(と)貼はるto stick/paste something all over a surface
壁かべにポスターをベタベタと貼はった。
He plastered posters all over the wall.
〈人ひと〉と〈相あい手て〉がベタベタするfor two people to be clingy/all over each other
あの二人ふたりはいつもベタベタしている。
Those two are always all over each other.
ベタベタな〈物もの〉a clichéd, hackneyed (story, joke, etc.)
それはベタベタな展てん開かいだった。
That was such a predictable, clichéd turn of events.

Related words· 6

べた
べた is the plain, non-reduplicated form meaning 'solid' or 'clichéd', while ベタベタ is the doubled mimetic form that emphasizes ongoing stickiness, heavy coating, or clinginess.
ねばねばN1sense 1
ねばねば describes a slimy, gooey stickiness like natto, whereas ベタベタ describes a tacky, adhesive stickiness like glue or sweat.
しつこいN3sense 4
しつこい describes persistent, annoying clinginess in general behavior, while ベタベタ specifically pictures physical closeness or constant touching between people.
陳ちん腐ぷN1sense 5
陳腐 is a formal, written word for 'trite' or 'hackneyed', while ベタベタ is a casual, spoken way to call something clichéd.

Show 2 more

じっとりN1
べたべた emphasizes sticky tackiness, often from grease or sugar, whereas じっとり is about clammy moisture, typically sweat.
ネチネチN1
べたべた describes a sticky, tacky feel (like glue on skin), while ネチネチ leans toward a gooier, more viscous stickiness, often unpleasant.

Opposites

さらさらN2sense 1
さらさら describes something dry, smooth, and non-sticky, the opposite of ベタベタ's tacky, clinging texture.

Don't confuse with

ベトベト sense 1
べとべと sounds similar to ベタベタ but describes a heavier, often greasy or oily stickiness, while ベタベタ is the more general word for tacky stickiness.
ぺたぺた sense 3
ぺたぺた describes the light, repeated action of patting or sticking something (like footsteps or stickers), while ベタベタ emphasizes the resulting sticky, heavy, or clingy state.

Written forms

ベタベタUsage59%
Common katakana spelling for this mimetic word.
べたべたUsage41%
Common hiragana spelling.

Etymology

Reduplicated mimetic word from べた, which itself is sound-symbolic. The exact origin is uncertain, but the form is typical of Japanese onomatopoeic adverbs.