Do not flip through the explanatory dictionary of foreign words in an attempt to find a decoding of the term: "kawaii is ...". It is not, however, it is known for certain that this jargon is used to mean something touching and touching, in a word - charming.
Origin
Perhaps, there would be no need to borrow this word if it were not for that unique hypertrophy of qualities that is embedded in its meaning. The term is of Japanese origin: it came to us from Japanese manga and anime, which, as you know, are famous for hyperbolic exaggerated emotions. From the vocabulary of anime fans, the word “kawaii” was transformed into slangs of other youth subcultures, and from there it turned into everyday speech. In the anime there is a subgenre - “kawaii”. In literal translation from Japanese, “kawaii” is “shusi-pusi”, more clearly it can be interpreted as “cute fluffy”. This subgenre specializes in stories about the main characters - cute animals, touching fluffy lumps, although sometimes, according to the development of the storyline, significant perturbations and surrealistic phantasmagoria can occur with them. Naturally, kawaii spawned fan art and had a significant impact on fashion trends in teenage and children's clothing. We owe him the dominance of “kawaii” clothes - these are hats with long ears, suits, on the hoods of which besides the ears, eyes and skirts with ponytails also show off. Therefore, such a significant spread of such images in everyday life makes us think of kawaii as a new Japanese cultural phenomenon.
Meaning and synonyms
“Kawaii” is such a specific term that can only give a subjective assessment of any phenomenon, thing, or living creature. Literally they call everything sweet, lovely, charming, delightful, but often the term is used as a quality mark or confirmation of a positive assessment. Sometimes the term is used in the meaning of “small”, but this is if the word personifies an adult, behaving like a small child, a lover of fooling around. To more easily explain to the ignorant what “kawaii” means, it is worth using the synonyms of jargon - glamorous, pretty. These words “enriched” our vocabulary much earlier and, perhaps, will be more understandable to the interlocutor. In any case, at present, there are no specific rules that strictly define the meaning of the word "kawaii." One thing is clear - in each region the term is used and interpreted by the inhabitants in different ways. As if each for himself determines the measure of cavalry.
Good examples
A separate category of anime fans claims that kawaii is an imitative of pets, traditionally cats, their grace and manners: complete uninhibited permissiveness, a kind of laziness ... the heroes of DiGiCharat'a are considered a universally recognized example, each of them is a kawaii sweetie. What it is, no one knows for sure, but everyone is moved. Others consider the standard Miruru (Tenshi ni Narumon), with its innocent charm, spontaneity and light rudeness. Every man to his own taste. Another controversial character is Lucky Star's Takara Miyuki. She is smart, beautiful, although she wears glasses, confused - one tenderness, not counting the breasts of the 3rd size. Other candidates include Misa Amane and Michuru Kayo (Death Note), Ikuto (from the Charm of the Guardians), Gilbert Knightray (Pandora’s Heart), Gaara and Sasuke (Naruto), Den Shun and Runo (from “ Bakugan ").
In modern American culture, California illustrator Jerrod Meruyama turns his favorite characters into pleasant and touching creatures, inspired by the heroes of Pixar and Disney. He was especially fond of the main characters of the amazing cartoon "Toy Story"
Replacing a plush toy
It is worth clarifying that this term does not contain sexual motivation. Kawaii is a substitute for a plush toy. Many, seeing a small kitten / puppy, etc., have a burning desire to cuddle him, and teenage girls with a cry: "What is cool?" immediately embrace the next teddy bear presented. This is an adequate reaction to cavalry - the awakening of deeply hidden in the minds of children's instincts. An interesting fact is that in Japanese there is a word (paronym) "kowaii" meaning "scary and scary." It is used as the antonym of the word "kaway", so one changed letter can cause misunderstandings and funny things. It is unlikely that any of the girls, boasting a new blouse, will be delighted when a friend, instead of flattering reviews, calls the new thing scary.