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おてんば Japanese meaning | Kotomora

おてんば

お

て

ん

ば

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

usually written using kana alone

Describes a girl or young woman who is lively, active, and enjoys rough or boyish activities. Often used affectionately or with mild exasperation.

彼かの女じょは小ちいさい頃ころからおてんばで、よく木きに登のぼっていた。
She's been a tomboy since she was little, and often climbed trees.
うちの娘むすめはおてんばすぎて、スカートをすぐ破やぶ

Written forms

おてんばUsage59%
Usually written in kana. The kanji forms お転婆, 御転婆, and 於転婆 are rare and not recommended for learners.
お転てん婆ばUsage39%
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
御お転てん婆ばUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.

い

て

しまう

。

My daughter is such a tomboy that she tears her skirts right away.

於お転てん婆ば

rarely-used kanji form

Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.

Kanji

転revolve, turn around, change
婆old woman, grandma, wet nurse
御honorable, manipulate, govern
於at, in, on

Similar words

やんちゃ
やんちゃ is used for both boys and girls and emphasizes mischievous, naughty behavior, while おてんば is specifically for girls and focuses on boyish, active traits.
活かっ発ぱつ
活発 is a more formal, gender-neutral adjective meaning 'active' or 'lively', without the boyish connotation of おてんば.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to お転婆 (otenba), where the kanji 転 means 'rolling' or 'tumbling' and 婆 means 'old woman', but the exact derivation is unclear. The word is now used exclusively for tomboyish girls.