Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun countable (anime, manga) A child-like character with exaggerated features, particularly in anime.
  • noun uncountable (anime, manga) A style of cartooning in which the characters are drawn to be very small and cute.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Japanese ちび (chibi), "runt", "dwarf" or "wee".

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Examples

  • His name is a portmanteau of the Japanese word chibi, meaning "small" or "child", and Amaterasu, the protagonist of the game's predecessor, Ōkami.

    Chibiterasu | Papercraft Paradise | PaperCrafts | Paper Models | Card Models Michael James 2009

  • His name is a portmanteau of the Japanese word chibi, meaning "small" or "child", and Amaterasu, the protagonist of the game's predecessor, Ōkami.

    Archive 2009-10-01 Michael James 2009

  • The ED (“Sekai no Namida” by Aira Yuki) was okay, I especially liked the ED sequence with the cast in chibi mode seemingly chasing the chickens.

    Anime Preview: Winter 2007/2008 First Impressions « Undercover 2008

  • The game is a fantasy rpg and has a very "chibi" cute style to it.

    Freelancer.com - New Projects 2010

  • First of all, the art is not bad - filled with moments of cuteness in 'chibi' style!

    Anime Nano! 2009

  • It's the one where they're jumping, they look kind of chibi too.

    Anime Nano! 2009

  • Her whimsical artistic style, called chibi (meaning short person "or" small child "), is an exaggerated style of manga illustration that's currently the rage in Japan and is characterized by hyper-cute and often very petite characters bursting with bubbly personalities.

    ComiPress - Manga News and Information 2008

  • Her whimsical artistic style, called chibi (meaning short person "or" small child "), is an exaggerated style of manga illustration that's currently the rage in Japan and is characterized by hyper-cute and often very petite characters bursting with bubbly personalities.

    Manga Maniac Cafe 2008

  • Her whimsical artistic style, called chibi (meaning short person "or" small child "), is an exaggerated style of manga illustration that's currently the rage in Japan and is characterized by hyper-cute and often very petite characters bursting with bubbly personalities.

    Anime Nano! 2008

  • Her whimsical artistic style, called chibi (meaning short person "or" small child "), is an exaggerated style of manga illustration that's currently the rage in Japan and is characterized by hyper-cute and often very petite characters bursting with bubbly personalities.

    ComiPress - Manga News and Information 2008

Comments

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  • This is the name of my cousin's dog. Japanese, I think, for white or snow?

    June 18, 2007

  • We once were given a cat named loto for "low to the ground" I think it was a translation of the cat's Cambodian name.

    June 18, 2007

  • It means "small" in Japanese. Lately I've been using it as slang for "small child". Ex: "When I was a chibi..."

    November 1, 2007