What does "pera pera" mean?

Question of the Week Vol. 16

by Namiko Abe
Namiko Abe was born and raised in Japan. She is a Japanese language teacher and translator, as well as a Japanese calligraphy expert.
Updated March 17, 2017

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"Pera pera （ぺらぺら）" is a (words mimicking states). They directly express states or actions of people and things. There are a few meanings for "pera pera" depending on the context. 


(1) Talk fluently

Kare wa nihongo ga pera pera desu.
彼は日本語がぺらぺらです。  		He speaks Japanese fluently.


(2) Talkativeness in a negative sense or to chatter.

Hiroshi wa himitsu o pera pera 
hanashite shimaimashita.  
博は秘密をぺらぺら話しました。		Hiroshi was so talkative 
that he told the secret.


(3) Thin, flimsy

Kono shatsu wa pera pera da.     
このシャツはぺらぺらだ。		This shirt is flimsy.