河童(かっぱ)

かっぱ
noun
kappa, water sprite
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

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • 皿(さら) (dish/plate) on top of head - holds water that gives them power
  • 緑色(みどりいろ)の肌(はだ) (green skin)
  • 甲羅(こうら) (turtle shell)
  • 水(みず)かき (webbed hands and feet)
  • 嘴(くちばし) (beak-like mouth)

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)

PROVERBS:

  • 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 PRESENCE:

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

SIMILAR CREATURES:

  • 天狗(てんぐ) (tengu) - mountain goblin
  • 座敷童(ざしきわらし) (zashiki-warashi) - house spirit

Related Words

Related: 天狗(てんぐ) (mythical creature)
general
Added 2026.1.18 8:07 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06521_kappa