河童(かっぱ)

かっぱ
noun
kappa, water sprite
culture
1. kappa, water sprite
A mythical creature from Japanese folklore said to inhabit rivers and ponds. Typically depicted as humanoid with a turtle-like shell, webbed hands and feet, and a dish-shaped depression on top of its head that holds water, which is the source of its power.
河童(かっぱ)は川(かわ)や池(いけ)に住(す)むと言(い)われている。
Kappa are said to live in rivers and ponds.
河童(かっぱ)の頭(あたま)の皿(さら)が乾(かわ)くと力(ちから)が抜(ぬ)けるらしい。
Apparently when the dish on a kappa's head dries out, it loses its strength.
河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れ
Even kappa get swept away by rivers (even experts can fail at their specialty)
A proverb

CULTURAL NOTE (appearance):

CULTURAL NOTE (folklore):

  • Said to love cucumbers (胡瓜(きゅうり))
  • Known for pulling people into water
  • Will politely return a bow (causing water to spill from their dish)
  • Associated with 相撲(すもう) (sumo wrestling)

Common expressions

  • 河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れ (even experts make mistakes)
  • 河童(かっぱ)に水練(すいれん) (teaching a fish to swim - unnecessary instruction)

CULTURAL NOTE (today):

  • 遠野(とおの) in Iwate Prefecture is famous for kappa folklore
  • かっぱ巻(ま)き (cucumber roll) is named after their favorite food
  • Featured in many anime, manga, and video games

RELATED WORDS (other yōkai):

Related Words

Related: 天狗(てんぐ) (mythical creature)
Compare: 座敷童(ざしきわらし) (zashiki-warashi)
general
Added 2026.1.18 8:07 · Revised 2026.10.11 9:21
06500/06521_kappa