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otokonoko
What does otokonoko mean?
A male character with a feminine gender expression or who cross-dresses, often indistinguishable in appearance from a girl. A distinct and gentler cousin of the contested 'trap' label.
"The café's gimmick is that all the waitresses are otokonoko."
Origin
Japanese 男の娘 (otokonoko), a pun writing 'boy' with the character 娘 'daughter/girl'.
Frequently asked questions
What does otokonoko mean?
It refers to a male character with a feminine gender expression, or who cross-dresses, often looking indistinguishable from a girl.
How is otokonoko different from 'trap'?
It's regarded as a gentler, less contested cousin of the 'trap' label, describing the same feminine-presenting-male archetype without the pejorative baggage.
Where does otokonoko come from?
From a Japanese pun — 男の娘 writes 'boy' but uses the character 娘 ('daughter/girl') where 'child' would normally go.
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