ひよこ
ひよこ
noun
chick, baby bird; novice
1.
chick, baby bird
A young chicken or baby bird, especially one that has just hatched.
ひよこが生まれた。
A chick was born.
ひよこが親鳥のあとをついていく。
The chicks follow after the mother bird.
卵からひよこが殻を破って出てくるのを見た。
I watched a chick break through the shell and emerge from the egg.
2.
novice, beginner, fledgling
A person who is new and inexperienced at something.
まだひよこだから。
I'm still a beginner, so...
社会人としてはまだひよこだ。
As a working adult, I'm still a fledgling.
ひよこ同然の新人に大きなプロジェクトは任せられない。
You can't entrust a big project to a newcomer who is practically a novice.
WRITING:
Usually written in hiragana. The kanji 雛 exists but is rarely used for this word.
SENSE 1 — CHICK:
Refers specifically to a baby chicken or newly hatched bird. The word is onomatopoeic, imitating the ピヨピヨ sound chicks make.
SENSE 2 — NOVICE:
Used figuratively for someone who is inexperienced. Often self-deprecating or affectionate — less harsh than 素人 (amateur) or 未熟者 (unskilled person).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ひよこ豆: chickpea
- ひよこ鑑定士: chick sexer (profession)
- まだひよこだ: still a beginner
- ひよこ同然: practically a novice