おてんば
おてんば
noun, na-adjective
tomboy
1.
tomboy, spirited girl
A girl who is energetic, active, and behaves in ways traditionally associated with boys. The term is generally affectionate rather than critical.
おてんばな女の子だ。
She's a tomboy.
妹はおてんばで木登りが得意だ。
My little sister is a tomboy and good at climbing trees.
小さい頃はおてんばで男の子と一緒に遊んでいた。
When I was little, I was a tomboy and played with the boys.
KANJI: Can be written as お転婆.
ETYMOLOGY: Said to come from Dutch 'ontembaar' (untamable), brought during the Edo period.
USAGE: Can function as a noun or as a na-adjective (おてんばな).
NUANCE: Generally used affectionately or neutrally to describe an active, spirited girl. Not usually derogatory.
RELATED EXPRESSION: 男勝り (a woman as capable as a man, often used for adult women).