also: チビッこ · チビっこ
small child; kid; tot
Colloquial, affectionate term for a small child, similar to 'little one' or 'kiddo'. Often used by adults when speaking to or about young children.
The little kids are playing in the park.
Our little one is still three years old.
Full katakana spelling, common in casual contexts. It is usually written in kana.
Katakana-initial variant, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
Mixed katakana-hiragana variant.
Derived from ちび (small, short) with the diminutive suffix っ子 (っこ), giving a cute or familiar tone. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a natural colloquial formation.