also: こぼけ
noun
slight foolishness; mildly silly act or remark
Refers to a small, often endearing, silly mistake or comment, not severe stupidity. Common in casual contexts.
彼は会議で小ボケをかまして、みんなを笑わせた。
He made a little silly remark at the meeting and made everyone laugh.
そんな小ボケは気にしなくていいよ。
Don't worry about such a small silly thing.
ボケ is a broader term for foolishness or a blunder, often used in comedy. 小ボケ specifically emphasizes a minor or cute level of silliness.
Compound of 小 (small) and ボケ (foolishness, blunder). The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of prefixing 小 to indicate a lesser degree.