ゆるキャラ

Japanese

Etymology

Blend of 緩い (yurui, “soft, loose”) +‎ キャラクター (kyarakutā, “character”), from English character.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ゆるキャラ [yùrúkyárá] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [jɯ̟ɾɯ̟kʲa̠ɾa̠]

Noun

Asakura Yumemaru, a mascot (ゆるキャラ) representing Fukui City, Japan

ゆるキャラ • (yurukyara) 

1. A mascot character, especially a plush costumed character, used to promote an entity or event
   • 2018 July 24 (last accessed), “Wakayama-shi no yurukyara”, in Wakayama City‎^[1]:

     和(わ)歌(か)山(やま)市(し)で活(かつ)躍(やく)するゆるキャラは、愛(あい)嬌(きょう)のある仕(し)草(ぐさ)やかわいらしいポーズでみんなの人(にん)気(き)者(もの)。

     Wakayama-shi de katsuyaku suru yurukyara wa, aikyō no aru shigusa ya kawairashī pōzu de minna no ninki mono.

     Wakayama City's active mascots, thanks to their charming manner and cute poses, are popular with everyone.

Related terms

• マスコット (masukotto)