Japanese Word · Intermediate
ばたばた
a rattling, flapping, a flapping sound, thrashing
Pronunciation: [ba̠ta̠ba̠ta̠]
Meaning
a rattling, flapping, a flapping sound, thrashing
Example
花道を駆け抜ける足音にばたばたばたという音を添えたり、「大事な密書をうっかり落とす」といった場面には、小さく「ぱたっ」と鳴らし、お客様に「ここをお見逃し無く」と知らせもします。
You add a so-called batabata sound of footsteps when someone is running onto the stage
Practice tips
- Practice ばたばた out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this Japanese word is for intermediate-level learners.