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おてんば娘 (おてんばむすめ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

おてんば娘むすめ

お

て

ん

ば

む

す

め

Meanings

1

tomboy; hoyden

Colloquial term for a lively, spirited girl who enjoys rough or boyish activities. Often used affectionately.

See also: おてんば

うち

の

娘むすめ

は

おてんば

娘むすめ

で

、

いつも

外そと

で

走はし

り

回まわ

っ

て

いる

。

My daughter is a tomboy and is always running around outside.

彼かの女じょは小ちいさい頃ころ、おてんば娘むすめだったらしい。

Apparently she was a tomboy when she was little.

Kanji

娘daughter, girl
転revolve, turn around, change
婆old woman, grandma, wet nurse

Related words

おてんば
Same meaning but without 娘; can be used as a noun or na-adjective to describe a tomboyish girl or behavior.

Written forms

おてんば娘むすめUsage63%
Common spelling using the kanji 娘 for 'girl'.
お転てん婆ば娘むすめUsage38%
Rare ateji spelling; the kanji 転婆 are used phonetically.

Etymology

The word おてんば is of uncertain origin, possibly from Dutch 'ontembaar' (untamable). 娘 means 'girl' or 'daughter', forming a compound meaning 'tomboy girl'.