ちび

Japanese

Etymology

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of 禿びる (chibiru, “to wear down and become small”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ちび [chíꜜbì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕibʲi]

Noun

ちび • (chibi)  (colloquial)

1. something small
2. short person, runt
   • 1987 March 20 [1987 February 20], Fujiko Fujio, “超兵器ガ壱號”, in カンビュセスの籤(くじ) (藤子不二雄 ＳＦ全短編; 1), 2nd edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Chuokoronsha, →ISBN, 第一章, page 100:

     ガリバアジャナイカ‼生キテタノカチビ
     ヨカッタナチビ
     国ヘツレ帰ッテヤルカラ安心シロチビ

     Garibā ja nai ka‼ Ikiteta no ka Chibi
     Yokatta na Chibi
     Kuni e tsurekaette yaru kara anshin shiro Chibi

     Is that you, Gulliva⁉ Thank goodness, you’re alive, Shorty
     Everything’s gonna be okay now, Shorty
     No need to worry any more, we’re here to bring you back home, Shorty

3. (an annoying) kid, squirt, pipsqueak

Derived terms

• おちびさん (o-chibi-san, “kidlet”)

Descendants

• → English: chibi
• → Korean: 치비 (chibi)

Okinawan

Noun

ちび (chibi) 

1. 尻: butt