chibi (English)

Where does "chibi" come from?

The English noun 'chibi', referring to a child-like character with exaggerated features or a style of cartooning[1][2], was borrowed from the Japanese word 'ちび' meaning 'something small, runt, dwarf, or pipsqueak'[1]. In Japanese, this term originates as the continuative stem form of the verb '禿びる' meaning 'to wear down and become small'[2].

Full etymology tree

• chibi (English), 'A child-like character with exaggerated features, particularly in anime.'
  • borrowed ちび (chibi) (Japanese), 'something small'
    • derived 禿びる (chibiru) (Japanese)

Ancestors

• ちび (Japanese)

Sources

1. chibi (English) - Wiktionary
2. ちび (chibi) (Japanese) - Wiktionary

Updated September 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris