<p>I don't know the series well, but from <a href="https://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%AA%E5%85%88%E8%BC%A9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> (mostly literally translating)</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Loli-senpai</em> is a nickname for Kana Arima.
It suits her because of her image as a genius child actress and her height being small (150cm=4.9ft).</p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p>From the Japanese language perspective, I'd guess it is made from the (kind of) opposite ばばあ先輩 (babaa senpai), which is an internet slang meaning generally older women co-workers who is senior to you. <em>Babaa</em> is a disrespectful way of calling (grand)mother, but used to call women in general (you'll be slapped in the face if you use it in reality).</p>
<p>'Loli' comes obviously from <em>lolita</em>, but here it does not necessarily contain disrespect, it should simply refer to the character's physical features/appearances being like a little girl (at least to the character who gave the name to her). Also, her attire in the link above is similar to typical primary school uniform (not exactly the same though).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-13T00:24:53.850Z
2023-11-13T00:24:53.850Z
sundowner
<p>In Season 1 Episode 5 of Oshi no Ko, around 2 minutes in Aqua and Ruby have a conversation about asking Kana to join an idol group</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Aqua</strong>: If it seems she'll be popular, it's all good. Why not at least try asking her?</p>
<p><strong>Ruby</strong>: Well, I get your point... But, you know, Loli-senpai and I have a rather unusual relationship, right?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Kana looks about the same age as her fellow students, so why did Ruby call her &quot;Loli-senpai&quot;? Is it meant to be an insult?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/WQJW1.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WQJW1.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-12T09:49:21.713Z
Not enough to make an answer out of, but I always figured it had *something* to do with her having been a child actor; possibly specifically the one gig when they met as children, or maybe just her general presence in the zeitgeist.
今撫子
<terminology><oshi-no-ko>
Why did Ruby call Kana "Loli-senpai"?
# Why did Ruby call Kana "Loli-senpai"?
Posted by: username_0 on 2023-11-12
In Season 1 Episode 5 of Oshi no Ko, around 2 minutes in Aqua and Ruby have a conversation about asking Kana to join an idol group

> **Aqua**: If it seems she'll be popular, it's all good. Why not at least try asking her?
>
> **Ruby**: Well, I get your point... But, you know, Loli-senpai and I have a rather unusual relationship, right?

Kana looks about the same age as her fellow students, so why did Ruby call her "Loli-senpai"? Is it meant to be an insult?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/WQJW1.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/WQJW1.jpg)
**Tags:** terminology oshi-no-ko
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Not enough to make an answer out of, but I always figured it had *something* to do with her having been a child actor; possibly specifically the one gig when they met as children, or maybe just her general presence in the zeitgeist.  
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2023-11-13. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
I don't know the series well, but from [here](https://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%AA%E5%85%88%E8%BC%A9) (mostly literally translating)

> *Loli-senpai* is a nickname for Kana Arima.
> It suits her because of her image as a genius child actress and her height being small (150cm=4.9ft).

---

From the Japanese language perspective, I'd guess it is made from the (kind of) opposite ばばあ先輩 (babaa senpai), which is an internet slang meaning generally older women co-workers who is senior to you. *Babaa* is a disrespectful way of calling (grand)mother, but used to call women in general (you'll be slapped in the face if you use it in reality).

'Loli' comes obviously from *lolita*, but here it does not necessarily contain disrespect, it should simply refer to the character's physical features/appearances being like a little girl (at least to the character who gave the name to her). Also, her attire in the link above is similar to typical primary school uniform (not exactly the same though).
---
