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This article is about the Japanese word kawaii. For the mascot of the same name see Kat Desktop Search Environment

File:Belldandy (Oh My Goddess!).png

The character Belldandy, from Ah! My Goddess, described as kawaii and displaying typical anime style features

Kawaii (可愛い) (pronounced /ka.w̜a.ii/) is a Japanese adjective which translates to cute or adorable.

The word and its usage

The kanji for the word 可愛い are ateji, reflecting meaning rather than sound. The characters 可愛 carry the meaning of "lovable" (as in Chinese, py: kě'ài), though the word kawaii is a derivitive of the Heian period word kawai which had a slightly darker meaning of "pitiful" or "helpless".

Cute items described as kawaii are extremely popular in Japan. The two largest manufacturers of such merchandise are Sanrio (manufacturers of "Hello Kitty") and San-X^{[citation needed]}. This character merchandise popular in Japan and around the world.

Handwriting

A modified style of writing generally practiced by young teenage girls aiming at appearing "cute" began increasing in popularity in the 1980s and is characterized by stylised, or often rounded, child-like characters. The popularity of cartoon and ASCII art designs also developed along with this.

Appearances in other cultures

The word kawaii is often used among fans of Japanese pop culture. Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" video shows the singer taking a picture of her Harajuku Girls entourage, and describes them as "super kawaii".

According to a list compiled by current and former students at Rice University, kawaii is an English neologism.

External links

References

Cute but Deadly: Women and Violence in Japanese Comics Kanako SHIOKAWA, Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1999

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-:''This article is about the Japanese word kawaii and its place in Japanese culture. For the mascot '''Kawaii''' of the same name see [[Kat Desktop Search Environment]]''
-'''Kawaii''' (可愛い) (pronounced /{{IPA|ka.w̜a.ii}}/) is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] term which translates to ''[[cuteness|cute]]'' or ''adorable''.
+{{disputed}}
-==The word and its usage==
+:''This article is about the Japanese word kawaii. For the mascot of the same name see [[Kat Desktop Search Environment]]''
-[[Image:Elfen Lied ep4 Nyuu.jpg|200px|thumb|Kawaii characters are typically drawn with large eyes and small noses and mouths, as in this still from ''[[Elfen Lied]]''.]]
-[[Image:Potato from Air TV.jpg|200px|thumb|Pets are often drawn in a kawaii style. Potato from ''[[Air TV]]'' is a good example.]]
+[[Image:Belldandy (Oh My Goddess!).png|200px|thumb|The character [[Belldandy]], from [[Ah! My Goddess (TV)|Ah! My Goddess]], described as ''kawaii'' and displaying typical [[anime]] style features]]
-[[Image:Belldandy (Oh My Goddess!).png|200px|thumb|Kawaii characters often have [[angel]]ic personalities. [[Belldandy]], from ''[[Ah! My Goddess (TV)|Ah! My Goddess]]'',  is a good example.]]
-The [[kanji]] writing of ''Kawaii'' (可愛い) literally means "adorable", though the word is probably derived from the old Japanese word ''kafo-fayusi'', meaning "to [[blush]]".
+'''Kawaii''' (可愛い) (pronounced /{{IPA|ka.w̜a.ii}}/) is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] [[adjective]] which translates to [[cuteness|cute]] or ''adorable''.
-The term is subjective and as such it can be used to describe anything an individual considers cute which can include attractive women. However young men are more likely to be described as ''kakko-ii'', meaning "good looking" or "cool" although Kawaii can be used to describe men who are considered to have "cute" personalities.
+==The word and its usage==
-Kawaii merchandise is extremely popular in Japan as well as other parts of Asia, such as China, Singapore, and Korea. The two largest manufacturers of such merchandise are [[Sanrio]] (manufacturers of "[[Hello Kitty]]") and San-X. This character merchandise is a hit with Japanese children and adults (usually women) alike.
+The kanji for the word 可愛い are [[ateji]], reflecting meaning rather than sound. The characters 可愛 carry the meaning of "lovable" (as in Chinese, [[Pinyin|py]]: ''kě'ài''), though the word ''kawaii'' is a derivitive of the [[Heian period]] word ''kawai'' which had a slightly darker meaning of "pitiful" or "helpless".
+Cute items described as ''kawaii'' are extremely popular in Japan. The two largest manufacturers of such merchandise are [[Sanrio]] (manufacturers of "[[Hello Kitty]]") and San-X{{fact}}. This character merchandise popular in Japan and around the world.
-The proliferation of mechandise regarded as kawaii is considered by some to be an expression of a female-led youth movement. Some critics argue it creates an obsession with youth and cuteness instead of appreciating mature beauty. Some think it also contributes to the acceptance of [[lolicon]] [[fandom]].
-The term 可愛 ([[simplified chinese|simplified]]:可爱) is also widely used in [[Chinese language|Chinese]], used in its original meaning. In Mandarin reading, this would be ([[Pinyin|py]]) kě'ài. (Note that the Chinese term 可愛 (adorable) ''does not'' derive from the Japanese term.)
-==Fashion==
-''Kawaii'' can be also used to describe [[fashion]]s. For example a fashion which is characterized by clothing that appears to be made for young children, typically featuring the liberal use of ruffles and shades of [[pink]], may be considered ''kawaii''. Accessories often include toys or bags that have representations of cartoon characters on them.
 ==Handwriting==
+A modified style of writing generally practiced by young teenage girls aiming at appearing "cute" began increasing in popularity in the 1980s and is characterized by stylised, or often rounded, child-like characters. The popularity of cartoon and [[ASCII art]] designs also developed along with this.
-When the kawaii 'craze' began to develop in [[Japan]] during the 1970s, a fad for writing notes and letters in rounded, childish characters began to catch on among teenaged girls. This style of penmanship was dubbed '''Anomalous Female Teenage Handwriting''' by [[Yamane Kazuma]], during his two year study of handwriting in Japan (between 1984 and 1986).
-Previously Japanese writing had been written vertically using strokes that vary in thickness along their length. The new style was written laterally, preferably using a [[mechanical pencil]] to produce very fine, even lines. The new writing used extremely stylised, rounded characters with [[English language|English]] characters, [[katakana]], and [[cartoon]] pictures such as hearts, stars, and faces inserted into the text. The new style of handwriting was distinct.
 ==Appearances in other cultures==
-Initialy the English usage of the term [[kawaii]] was restricted almost entirely to fans of Japanese pop culture such as the [[manga]] and [[anime]] fans however recent usage of the term in [[Gwen Stefani]]'s "[[Harajuku Girls]]" video implies the term may be becoming a [[loanword]]. In her "[[Hollaback Girl]]" video the singer takes a picture of her [[Harajuku Girls]] entourage, and describes them as "Supa-kawaii".
+The word ''kawaii'' is often used among fans of Japanese pop culture. [[Gwen Stefani]]'s "[[Hollaback Girl]]" video shows the singer taking a picture of her [[Harajuku Girls]] entourage, and describes them as "super kawaii"<!-- she pronounces SUPER in English-->.
-According to a list compiled by current and former students at [[Rice University]] Kawaii is an English [[neologism]]. <sup>[http://esa4.rice.edu/~ling215/browse.php?l=k]</sup>
+According to [http://esa4.rice.edu/~ling215/browse.php?l=k a list] compiled by current and former students at [[Rice University]], ''kawaii'' is an English [[neologism]].
-{{Japan-stub}}
-{{culture-stub}}
 ==See also==
 *[[Beauty]]
@@ Line 55: / Line 43: @@
 *[http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.12/cute.html December 1999 ''Wired'' article on "Cute Inc."]
 *[http://www.allthingskawaii.net/ All Things Kawaii, a web site dedicated to everything cute.]
 ==References==
 ''Cute but Deadly: Women and Violence in Japanese Comics'' Kanako SHIOKAWA, Bowling Green State University Popular Press, [[1999]]