Entry
ベロベロ
berobero
Being completely dead drunk, or licking something thoroughly and wetly.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word primarily describes two situations: a state of extreme intoxication where someone is staggering or slurring their words, and the action of licking something repeatedly, broadly, or with a lot of saliva.
- A state of extreme intoxication and loss of control.
- The action of licking something broadly and wetly.
Sense Map
Dead Drunk
Describes a state of extreme intoxication from alcohol, often involving staggering, slurred speech, or a loss of physical control.
ベロベロに酔う
Licking Thoroughly
The action of licking something broadly, wetly, or repeatedly with the tongue, like a dog licking a face.
顔をベロベロなめる
Usage Note
How to Use
ベロベロになる
To become dead drunk. Used to describe the transition into extreme intoxication.
ベロベロに + verb
Used as an adverb before verbs like 酔う (you - to get drunk) or なめる (nameru - to lick) to show high intensity.
ベロベロだ
Used as a na-adjective to describe the current state of being completely wasted.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ベロベロになる
to become dead drunk
ベロベロに酔う
to get blind drunk
ベロベロなめる
to lick all over wetly
べろべろの客
a dead drunk customer
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| When drinking alcohol | negative | Usually implies a lack of control and sloppy behavior. It is casually used to describe oneself or others who drank way too much. |
| When licking something | neutral | Can sound slightly unhygienic or messy because of the strong emphasis on saliva and a wide surface area. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぺろぺろ ぺろぺろ / contrast | For lighter, quicker, or more delicate licking, like eating a lollipop. | Unlike ベロベロ, which implies heavier, wetter, or wider licking with more saliva. | キャンディをペロペロなめる |
ぐでんぐでん ぐでんぐでん / similar | For being so completely drunk that one loses physical structure and cannot stand straight. | Very similar for drunkenness, but ベロベロ also carries the meaning of licking, whereas ぐでんぐでん is strictly for being wasted. | ぐでんぐでんに酔う |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it simply to mean 'drinking alcohol'.
It strictly means being dead drunk. Use ほろ酔い (horoyoi) for being lightly tipsy, or simply 酔う (you) for being drunk.
Using it for eating ice cream or candy.
Use 'peropero' for normal licking of sweets. 'Berobero' sounds very messy, like a large dog licking your face.
Examples
Examples
昨日の夜は、ベロベロになるまでお酒を飲んでしまった。
きのうのよるは、ベロベロになるまでおさけをのんでしまった。
Last night, I drank alcohol until I was dead drunk.
LiteralShows a state of completely losing control due to alcohol.
犬が私の顔をベロベロなめる。
いぬがわたしのかおをベロベロなめる。
The dog licks my face all over.
VisualDescribes the wide and wet licking typical of pets.
父はいつもベロベロに酔って帰ってくる。
ちちはいつもベロベロによってかえってくる。
My father always comes home dead drunk.
LiteralUsed as an adverb to emphasize the level of drunkenness.
彼はすっかりべろべろで、まともに歩けない。
かれはすっかりべろべろで、まともにあるけない。
He is completely dead drunk and cannot walk straight.
LiteralCan be written in Hiragana. Emphasizes the loss of physical balance.
赤ちゃんがぬいぐるみをべろべろになめている。
あかちゃんがぬいぐるみをべろべろになめている。
The baby is slobbering and licking the stuffed toy all over.
VisualShows a very messy action full of saliva.
Similar Words
ぐでんぐでん
gudenguden
Also means dead drunk, to the point of losing physical structure.
ペロペロ
peropero
This word describes the action of repeatedly licking something or gobbling up food very quickly. A lighter, cuter licking action.
ほろり
horori
ほろり describes a gentle transition, such as being moved to shed a tear, becoming pleasantly tipsy, or the soft falling of light objects.
ヘトヘト
hetoheto
This word describes a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue where one's energy is completely drained.
Questions
Is 'berobero' polite to use at work?
No, it is a casual and somewhat sloppy word. You should avoid it in formal business settings unless you are joking around with close colleagues.
Does 'berobero' refer to a hangover?
No, it only describes the active state of being extremely drunk, not the aftereffects on the following day.
Can I use it to mean 'high' on drugs?
Generally, no. It is almost exclusively used to describe extreme intoxication from alcohol.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2080630
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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