チャリンコ

Japanese

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) チャリンコ [chàríńkó] (Heiban – [0])[1]
IPA^(key): [t͡ɕa̠ɾʲĩŋko̞]

Alternative forms

ちゃりんこ

Etymology 1

Unknown. Becomes widespread in Japanese from the 1970s. Possible origins include:

a compound of チャリン (charin, the sound of a bicycle bell) +‎ 子 (ko, diminutive nominalizing suffix)
borrowed from Jeju 자륜거 (jaryun-geo, “bicycle”), apparently deriving from the hanja 自輪車, instead of 自轉車 for standard Korean 자전거 (jajeon-geo), possibly introduced by immigrants to Japan

Noun

チャリンコ (rōmaji charinko)

(slang) a bicycle

Usage notes

May have childish overtones. Not used in formal contexts.

Synonyms

(bicycle): 自転車 (じてんしゃ, jitensha)

Derived terms

Derived terms

チャリ (chari): abbreviated form
チャリ通 (つう) (charitsū): commuting by bicycle
ママチャリ (mamachari): a “mama bike”, with baskets in front and back, or possibly a child seat in back

ババチャリ (babachari): (pejorative) an “old-lady bike”, a bicycle ridden by an elderly woman
カマチャリ (kamachari): a “praying mantis bike”, a bicycle with the handlebars turned upwards to resemble the front legs of a 蟷螂 (kamakiri, “praying mantis”)
原 (げん)チャリ (genchari): a moped, a scooter

Etymology 2

Unknown. Possibly a compound of チャリン (charin, the sound of metal clinking, such as coins) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).

In use since the Edo period, pre-dating the bicycle sense. Apparently falling out of use some time after the end of WWII.

Noun

チャリンコ (rōmaji charinko)

(obsolete) a child pickpocket

Synonyms

(pickpocket, in general):
- 掏摸, 掏児 (すり, suri)
- 巾着きり (きんちゃくきり, kinchaku-kiri) (compare English cutpurse)
- ちぼ (chibo) (slang, Kyōto and Ōsaka areas)

References

2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9

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