平べったい

• Reading: ひらべったい
• Romaji: hirabettai
• Kanji breakdown: 平 (hei/hira) — flat, even, level
• Pronunciation: /hi.ɾa.be.t.ta.i/

Meaning

Flat; flattened; squashed flat. A more emphatic and colloquial version of 平たい.

An i-adjective that is essentially a more colloquial, emphatic form of 平たい (hiratai, flat). The べったい suffix adds a sense of being thoroughly or noticeably flat — squished, pressed down, or lacking any height: 平べったい顔 (a flat face), 平べったい箱 (a flat box). Often carries a slightly humorous or descriptive tone, used more in spoken language than formal writing. Interchangeable with 平たい in most contexts but sounds more casual and vivid.

Examples

1. 平べったい箱に入れて送ってください。 Please put it in a flat box and ship it.
2. この魚は体が平べったいのが特徴だ。 This fish is known for its flat, squashed body.
3. 座りすぎてクッションが平べったくなった。 The cushion got completely flat from too much sitting.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, description, cooking

Tone: colloquial

Origin & History

From 平 (hira, flat) + べったい, an emphatic colloquial suffix derived from ぺったい/べたい, which intensifies the sense of flatness. The べ sound adds a tactile, slightly exaggerated quality compared to the more neutral 平たい.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal