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Video showing the general proportions of a chibi character.

Chibi (ちび or チビ) is a Japanese slang word meaning "short person" or "small child." The word has gained currency amongst fans of manga and anime. Its meaning is of someone or some animal that is small. It can be translated as "little," but is not used the same way as chiisana [小さな] (tiny, small, little in Japanese) but rather cute. A prototypical example of the former usage in the original Japanese which brought the term to the attention of Western fans is Chibiusa, a pet name for the diminutive daughter of Sailor Moon formed from Chibi Usagi ("Little Rabbit").^[1]

In English-speaking anime and manga fandom (otaku), the term chibi has mostly been conflated with the "super deformed" style of drawing characters with oversized heads or it can be used to describe child versions of characters.

Chibi style is usually used in depicting scenes which are cute and/or humorous, and it is extremely rare for it to be used for an entire anime series. It is quite popular in manga, however.

References

^ "Sailor Moon volume 3 translation". Retrieved 2008-05-23.

External links

Chibi Land Sailor Moon site devoted to Chibis and Super deformed

[1] "Sailor Moon volume 3 translation". Retrieved 2008-05-23.

[1]

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 [[File:Girl in chibi style.svg|thumb|right|Example for a character drawn in chibi style]]
 [[File:Proper Chibi Proportions.webm|thumb|Video showing the general proportions of a chibi character.]]
-{{nihongo|'''Chibi'''|ちび or チビ|}} is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] slang word meaning "short person" or "small child." The word has gained currency amongst fans of [[manga]] and [[anime]]. Its meaning is of someone, usually children, or some animal that is small. It can be translated as "little," but is not used the same way as ''chiisana'' [小さな] (tiny, small, little in Japanese) but rather cute. A prototypical example of the former usage in the original Japanese which brought the term to the attention of Western fans is [[Chibiusa]], a [[hypocoristic|pet name]] for the [[:wiktionary:diminutive|diminutive]] daughter of [[Sailor Moon (character)|Sailor Moon]] formed from ''Chibi Usagi'' ("Little Rabbit").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kurozuki.com/takeuchi/sailormoon/volume03.html |title=Sailor Moon volume 3 translation |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref>
+{{nihongo|'''Chibi'''|ちび or チビ|}} is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] slang word meaning "short person" or "small child." The word has gained currency amongst fans of [[manga]] and [[anime]]. Its meaning is of someone or some animal that is small. It can be translated as "little," but is not used the same way as ''chiisana'' [小さな] (tiny, small, little in Japanese) but rather cute. A prototypical example of the former usage in the original Japanese which brought the term to the attention of Western fans is [[Chibiusa]], a [[hypocoristic|pet name]] for the [[:wiktionary:diminutive|diminutive]] daughter of [[Sailor Moon (character)|Sailor Moon]] formed from ''Chibi Usagi'' ("Little Rabbit").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kurozuki.com/takeuchi/sailormoon/volume03.html |title=Sailor Moon volume 3 translation |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref>
-The term often has discriminating or insulting sense in Japan, however when used by parents of children or the owner of the pets, it usually includes some self-abasement or humility towards someone he/she is talking to. In animation, this relation consist of between the author and the character(s). Further, in response to the conversation, "chibi" should not be used by the person other than the parants or owner since it is not polite to call the children/pets "chibi". In normal situation/context, don't call your Japanese friend "chibi", it'll be definitely discriminating/insulting him/her from the Japanese point of view. Historically used by Chinese and Korean for the purpose.
 In English-speaking [[anime and manga fandom]] ([[otaku]]), the term ''chibi'' has mostly been [[conflation|conflated]] with the "[[super deformed]]" style of drawing characters with oversized heads or it can be used to describe child versions of characters.
 Chibi style is usually used in depicting scenes which are cute and/or humorous, and it is extremely rare for it to be used for an entire anime series. It is quite popular in manga, however.
 ==See also==