Describes a person, especially a child, who is full of playful mischief in an endearing way. Often used in the phrase 茶目っ気.
彼は茶目な笑顔でいたずらをした。
He played a prank with a mischievous grin.
Refers to a person who is habitually playful and mischievous, often in a charming or harmless way.
brown eyes
Rare, literal meaning referring to brown-colored eyes. Not commonly used in modern Japanese; 茶色の目 is more typical.
古い小説で「茶目」が茶色の瞳を指すことがある。
In old novels, 茶目 can refer to brown eyes.
あの子は茶目っ気たっぷりだ。
That kid is full of playful mischief.
My younger brother is a real prankster and always makes the family laugh.
playfulness; mischievousness; naughtiness
play pranks; be mischievous
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana spelling is common in casual writing.
Originally referring to brown-colored eyes, 茶目 later came to denote a mischievous or playful person and then playfulness itself.