ちび・禿びchibi[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounsmall child; pipsqueak; small fry; small, cute versions of manga, anime, etc. characters, typically with oversized heads
2. nounshort person; midget; dwarf
   ぼくにチビと言いわれてあいつはすごくあたまにきた。↗

   He got mad at me for calling him Shorty.
3. nounsmall animal; runt
4. prefixworn down (pencil, etc.)

• SynonymちんちくりんCasualColloquial word for a short person or overly short clothes, with a comic flavor; 「ちび」 is what you use to address a child or short person directly.
• Synonym一寸法師いっすんぼうしNeutralThe one-inch-tall boy of a Japanese fairy tale; used metaphorically for a very short person, with a storybook flavor 「ちび」 lacks.
• SynonymちびっこCasualColloquial and affectionate for small children, as in 「ちびっ子広場」; friendlier than 「ちび」, which can sound rude face to face.
• Related低いひくいNeutralNeutral adjective meaning low or short in height; it describes rather than names a person, so it never addresses anyone and has none of 「ちび」's teasing.
• Related小人こびとNeutralLittle people or elves of fairy tales, as in 「白雪姫と七人の小人」; a neutral noun for fantasy beings, not a teasing label like 「ちび」.
• Related小さいちいさいNeutralThe all-purpose neutral adjective for small; it describes size rather than naming a person, so it lacks 「ちび」's teasing tone.
• RelatedちっちゃいCasualColloquial, endearing adjective meaning tiny; it describes size only and is not used to address people the way 「ちび」 is.
• Related朱儒しゅじゅWrittenOld written-style word for a dwarf with discriminatory overtones; avoid in modern usage, unlike the casual 「ちび」.
• Related矮躯わいくWrittenWritten, rare word for a small stature; literary description only, never a colloquial way to address someone like 「ちび」.

Use 「ちび」 colloquially for a small child, short person, or chibi character (「ちびキャラ」), but it can sound rude face to face. For kids affectionately pick 「ちびっ子」; describe height with 「低い」 or 「小さい」; 「ちんちくりん」 is comic, for shortness or short clothes; 「一寸法師」 and 「小人」 are fairy-tale figures; 「朱儒」 and 「矮躯」 are written, dated terms to avoid.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 背せの低ひくいこと。また、その人ひと。身体しんたいの小ちいさい動物どうぶつなどにもいう。
2. 年少ねんしょう者しゃ。軽かろんじたり、かわいらしいという気持きもちをこめて用もちいる。
3. 名詞めいしの上うえに付ついて、すりへっていることを表あらわす。