An onomatopoeic word describing things (like wings, cloth, or metal) flapping or rattling loudly.
洗濯物が風でバタバタと揺れている。
The laundry is flapping noisily in the wind.
鳥がバタバタと羽を広げて飛び立った。
A bird flapped its wings and took off.
屋根のトタンが強い風でバタバタ音を立てている。
The metal roof sheets are rattling loudly in the strong wind.
Describes moving noisily with clattering or thrashing about; running or floundering with a loud sound.
子供たちが廊下をバタバタと走り回っている。
Children are running up and down the corridor with a racket.
魚が網の中でバタバタと暴れていた。
The fish were flopping wildly in the net.
強風で看板がバタバタと揺れていた。
The signboard was rattling back and forth in the strong wind.
Describes things happening one after another in quick succession; a series of events occurring rapidly.
開店直後から注文がバタバタと入って、店は忙しくなった。
Orders came in one after another right after opening, and the shop got busy.
あの週はトラブルがバタバタと続いた。
Troubles kept happening one after another that week.
電話がバタバタ鳴って対応に追われた。
The phone kept ringing in quick succession and I was swamped dealing with it.
Busy or hurriedly doing things; being in a fluster and rushing around.
朝はいつもバタバタしていて、ゆっくり朝食をとれない。
Mornings are always hectic, so I can't eat breakfast slowly.
出発前で家中がバタバタしていた。
The whole house was in a flurry before departure.
バタバタしていて返信が遅くなった。申し訳ない。
I was tied up and delayed replying — sorry about that.
Quickly or briskly; doing something with dispatch (sometimes carelessly).
昼休みにバタバタと昼食を済ませた。
I quickly finished lunch during the break.
彼は仕事をバタバタ片付けて、早く帰った。
He wrapped up his work quickly and went home early.
荷物をバタバタ詰め込んで駅へ向かった。
I hurriedly stuffed my luggage in and headed to the station.
A colloquial noun referring (regionally) to certain small vehicles such as three-wheeled motorcycles or older small trucks.
地方の市場ではまだバタバタが荷物を運んでいることがある。
In some local markets you can still see three-wheelers (batabata) transporting goods.
子どものころ、祖父の乗っていた古いバタバタが印象に残っている。
When I was a child, I remember my grandfather's old three-wheeler vehicle.