Contents
Meaning
お転婆 (otenba) refers to a girl or young woman who is lively, tomboyish, and boisterous — someone who doesn’t behave in the traditionally “ladylike” way expected of girls.
Etymology — 語源
Interestingly, お転婆 is thought to derive from Dutch — the word “ontembaar” meaning “untameable” or “unruly.” This word likely entered Japanese during the Edo period when the Dutch were the only Western traders allowed in Japan. Over time it became written as お転婆 in kanji, with 転婆 suggesting a woman who “tumbles about.”
English Equivalents
| 英語 | ニュアンス |
|---|---|
| Tomboy | the most direct equivalent — a girl with boyish, energetic behavior |
| Spirited girl | lively and full of energy, slightly more positive tone |
| Wild child | emphasis on being unruly and hard to contain |
| Boisterous girl | noisy, energetic, rough-and-tumble |
| Free-spirited girl | modern, positive spin — independent and carefree |
Nuance to Know
お転婆is generally used affectionately or fondly, with little negative judgment in modern usage. It often evokes the image of a girl who:
- Climbs trees and runs around outside
- Is more interested in adventure than appearance
- Speaks and laughs loudly without reservation
- Doesn’t shy away from rough play or competition
It is almost exclusively used for girls and young women — using it for an adult woman carries a nostalgic or playful tone, often looking back on how she used to be.
「彼女は子供の頃、すごいお転婆だったらしい。」 “Apparently she was quite the tomboy when she was a child.”
Example sentences
お転婆 — 例文20選
1
彼女は子供の頃、近所で一番のお転婆だった。 She was the biggest tomboy in the neighborhood when she was a child.
2
お転婆な妹は、今日も木に登って母を困らせている。 My tomboyish little sister is climbing trees again today, much to my mother’s exasperation.
3
そんなお転婆な君が、まさかドレスを着るとは思わなかった。 I never imagined that a tomboy like you would ever wear a dress.
4
彼女のお転婆ぶりは、大人になっても少しも変わらない。 Her spirited, tomboyish nature hasn’t changed one bit even now that she’s grown up.
5
お転婆な娘を持つと、親は気が休まらないね。 Having a wild, boisterous daughter means parents never get a moment’s peace.
6
あのお転婆な女の子が、今では立派な医者になっている。 That spirited tomboy of a girl has now grown into a fine doctor.
7
お転婆だった彼女は、スポーツ選手として大成した。 She was a tomboy growing up, and went on to become a accomplished athlete.
8
新しいクラスメートはお転婆で、すぐにみんなと打ち解けた。 The new classmate was a lively, free-spirited girl who quickly got along with everyone.
9
お転婆な性格のおかげで、彼女は男女問わず友達が多い。 Thanks to her tomboyish personality, she has many friends regardless of gender.
10
祖母は若い頃、村一番のお転婆娘だったと聞いている。 I’ve heard that my grandmother was the most spirited and tomboyish girl in the village when she was young.
11
お転婆な彼女は、ヒールよりスニーカーが断然似合う。 Sneakers suit her tomboyish nature far better than heels ever could.
12
その映画の主人公は、お転婆な少女が成長していく物語だ。 The protagonist of that film is a spirited, tomboyish girl, and the story follows her as she grows up.
13
お転婆すぎて、小学校時代はよく膝に傷を作っていた。 She was such a tomboy that she was always coming home with scraped knees during her elementary school days.
14
お転婆な姉と、おとなしい妹は性格が正反対だ。 My tomboyish older sister and quiet younger sister are complete opposites in personality.
15
彼女のお転婆な笑い声は、部屋中に響き渡った。 Her boisterous, carefree laughter echoed throughout the entire room.
16
お転婆な子ほど、大人になってから魅力的になるとよく言われる。 They often say that the bigger the tomboy, the more captivating she becomes as an adult.
17
お転婆な彼女は、男の子に混じってサッカーをするのが大好きだった。 As a tomboy, she loved joining the boys for a game of soccer.
18
そのお転婆な女の子は、虫も蛇も全く怖がらなかった。 That spirited tomboy wasn’t afraid of insects or snakes in the slightest.
19
お転婆な娘が、突然バレエを習いたいと言い出して驚いた。 I was surprised when my tomboyish daughter suddenly announced she wanted to take ballet lessons.
20
昔はお転婆だったのに、今では誰よりも上品でしとやかだ。 She used to be such a tomboy, yet now she is more graceful and refined than anyone.
Conversation example
お転婆 — 会話例
会話 1 ｜ 親同士の会話
A： うちの娘、また公園で男の子と泥だらけになって帰ってきたよ。 My daughter came home covered in mud again after playing with the boys at the park.
B： あはは、相変わらずお転婆だね。 Ha, she’s as much of a tomboy as ever, isn’t she.
A： ほんとに。スカートを履かせても、すぐに木に登るんだから。 Honestly. Even when I dress her in a skirt, she goes straight up a tree.
B： うちの子なんておとなしすぎて、逆に心配なくらいだよ。お転婆なくらいが元気でいいんじゃない？ My child is almost too quiet — I actually worry about it. Being a tomboy just means she’s full of energy, which is a good thing, don’t you think?
A： そう思うようにしてるんだけどね。洗濯物が毎日大変で（笑）。 I try to see it that way. But the laundry every single day is no joke. (laughs)
会話 2 ｜ 同窓会での再会
A： 久しぶり！全然変わってないね。 It’s been so long! You haven’t changed a bit.
B： そう？昔に比べたら大人しくなったよ。小学校の頃なんてお転婆すぎて、先生に毎日怒られてたじゃない。 You think? I’ve calmed down a lot compared to back then. In elementary school I was such a tomboy that the teacher was scolding me every single day.
A： 覚えてる覚えてる（笑）。体育の時間に男子と本気で競争してたよね。 I remember that so well. (laughs) You used to race against the boys in gym class with everything you had.
B： 懐かしいなあ。あの頃のお転婆ぶりは、今の自分からは想像もできないよ。 Those were the days. Looking at myself now, it’s hard to imagine I was ever that much of a tomboy.
A： でもあのお転婆な性格があったから、今のあなたがあるんじゃない？ But isn’t it precisely because of that spirited, tomboyish nature that you’ve become who you are today?
会話 3 ｜ 兄妹の会話
兄： おい、また自転車で坂道を全速力で下ってたろ。見てたぞ。 Hey, I saw you racing down that hill on your bike at full speed again.
妹： 別にいいじゃん。楽しいんだもん。 So what? It’s fun.
兄： 危ないだろ。もう少しおとなしくできないの？ It’s dangerous. Can’t you be a little more careful?
妹： お兄ちゃんだって昔やってたくせに。 You used to do the same thing when you were my age.
兄： 俺は男だから。お前はお転婆すぎるんだよ。 That’s different, I’m a boy. You’re just way too much of a tomboy.
妹： お転婆で何が悪いの！ What’s wrong with being a tomboy!
兄： …まあ、元気なのはいいことだけどさ。怪我だけはするなよ。 …Well, I suppose being full of energy is a good thing. Just don’t go getting yourself hurt.
会話 4 ｜ 祖母と孫の会話
孫： おばあちゃんって、若い頃どんな子だったの？ Grandma, what were you like when you were young?
祖母： それはもうお転婆でねえ。毎日野山を駆け回ってたよ。 Oh, I was quite the tomboy, I tell you. I was out running through the fields and hills every single day.
孫： えー、おばあちゃんが？信じられない！ What, you were? I can’t believe it!
祖母： 今の姿からは想像できないでしょ（笑）。村の男の子たちにも負けないくらい、木登りや川遊びをしてたんだよ。 Hard to picture from how I am now, isn’t it. (laughs) I used to climb trees and play in the river just as well as any of the boys in the village.
孫： すごい！今のわたしみたいだね。 That’s amazing! That sounds just like me now.
祖母： あなたのお転婆ぶりを見てると、若い頃の自分を思い出すよ。 Watching you be such a tomboy reminds me of myself when I was young.
会話 5 ｜ カップルの会話
彼氏： 昔の写真、見せてもらったけど、子供の頃すごいお転婆だったんだね。 I got to see some old photos of you — you were quite the tomboy as a kid, weren’t you.
彼女： もう、恥ずかしい。よりによってあの写真を見たの？ Oh gosh, how embarrassing. Of all the photos to look at, it had to be those.
彼氏： 木に登ってる写真とか、泥だらけで笑ってる写真とか、なんかかわいかったよ。 There were ones of you climbing trees and laughing covered in mud — honestly, they were kind of adorable.
彼女： 小学校の頃は毎日外で遊んでて、スカートなんて絶対に履かなかったんだよね。 Back in elementary school I was outside playing every single day, and I absolutely refused to wear skirts.
彼氏： 今のあなたからは全然想像できないな。お転婆だった頃の話、もっと聞かせてよ。 It’s completely impossible to imagine from how you are now. Tell me more about your tomboy days.
彼女： もう黒歴史だから（笑）。でも今思えば、あの頃が一番自由だったかも。 It’s ancient embarrassing history as far as I’m concerned. (laughs) But looking back now, those days were probably when I was most free.
