こわっぱ

also: こわらわ · こわらべ

こ

わ

っ

ぱ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alonederogatory

Derogatory term for a young boy or child, often used dismissively. The kana spelling こわっぱ is standard.

あのこわっぱがまたいたずらをした。
That brat pulled another prank.
こわっぱのくせに生なま意い気きだ。
He's just a kid, but he's so cheeky.

Kanji

小little, small
童juvenile, child

Related words

小こ僧ぞう
Also a derogatory term for a boy, but 小僧 can imply a young apprentice or servant, while こわっぱ is more purely dismissive.
ガキ
Very common slang for 'brat' or 'kid'; more informal and widely used than こわっぱ.

Built from

小こ+わっぱ

Written forms

こわっぱUsage45%
Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 小童 is rare and may be read こわらわ or こわらべ.
小童Usage41%
- こわっぱ
  Kanji spelling; can also be read こわらわ or こわらべ, but those readings are obsolete.
- こわらわ
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading of 小童.
- こわらべ
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading of 小童.
小こわっぱUsage14%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; uncommon.
こわらべ
out-dated reading
こわらわ
out-dated reading

Etymology

Derived from 小 (ko, 'small') + 童 (warawa/warabe, 'child'). The reading こわっぱ is a sound shift from こわらわ.