わんぱく

わ

ん

ぱ

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Describes children who are playfully disobedient, full of energy, and often getting into minor trouble. Carries a somewhat affectionate tone.

うちの子こはわんぱくで、いつも泥どろだらけになって帰かえってくる。

Our child is mischievous and always comes home covered in mud.

わんぱくな男おとこの子こが公こう園えんを走はしり回まわっている。

A naughty boy is running around the park.

〈人ひと〉な子こ供どもa naughty, energetic child
彼かれは近きん所じょでも有ゆう名めいなわんぱくな子こ供どもだった。
He was known in the neighborhood as a mischievous, energetic kid.
〈人ひと〉に育そだつto grow up into a lively, mischievous child
三さん人にん兄きょう弟だいはみんなわんぱくに育そだった。
All three brothers grew up rowdy and full of mischief.

やんちゃ
やんちゃ can sound a bit rougher or more willful, while 腕白 usually implies playful, harmless energy in a child.
いたずらN3
いたずら names the specific prank or mischievous act, while 腕白 describes a child's overall lively, naughty character.

大人おとなしいN3
おとなしい describes a calm, well-behaved child, the opposite of a 腕白 (rowdy, mischievous) one.

わんぱくUsage55%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 腕白 is ateji and rare.
腕わん白ぱくUsage26%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Ateji kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.
ワンパクUsage19%

The origin is uncertain. The kanji 腕白 are ateji, chosen for their sound rather than meaning.

腕わん白ぱく横よこ綱づな

champion of children's sumo

children's sumo