"Rindere" (JP) is a term for a mature and dignified female character who normally has a cool reserved exterior, but becomes cute, loving, and deredere after getting closer to their love interest. They are someone who keeps others at a distance with a cool attitude, but maintains a calm and dignified appearance that others look up to and admire. They have a lot of confidence and will rarely lose their cool, but they aren't afraid to speak their mind and may scold others for doing something that isn't in their best interest. They are a mature and independent woman who has an older-sister like quality that others depend on them. It is not easy to get intimate with them, but once you do they will show a deep affection towards their love interest.
Etymology
Risa Takizawa from Custom Order Maid 3D2
Meaning of the Term
Rindere (凛デレ) comes from "rin" (凛), meaning "dignified (showing a composed manner that is worthy of respect)", and "deredere" (デレデレ), a mimetic word for "being lovestruck". The term "rin" originally referred to "the state of being tense in the cold" and by extension came to mean "a firm and flawless appearance or attitude".
The term "rin" is often used to describe the cool beauty archetype for female characters who are mature and dignified, but also cool and reserved. They are someone who keeps others at a distance, but maintains a calm and dignified appearance that others look up to and admire. A rindere character behaves like that at first, but becomes deredere when they get closer to their love interest.
Origin
The term "rindere" originated as a nickname for the character of Risa Takizawa from the 2018 erotic visual novel Custom Order Maid 3D2 (JP). The series defined rindere as: "A mature, dignified woman who is usually cool, but sometimes gets sweet and friendly."[1][2]
Personality
Rindere are characters who are mature and dignified. They have a strict cool side normally, but once you get to know them and they open up they will become very affectionate and loving.
Rin Period
Risa Takizawa from Custom Order Maid 3D2
Rindere are mature and independent. They are very dependable characters that other people look up to and possess an "older sister" like quality to them. They may scold others for acting out or doing something they feel isn't in their best interest, but they will almost never lose their cool or get angry.
Rindere will not be afraid to speak their own opinions and have a strong sense of confidence in both their looks and their personality. Because they aren't quick to open up to others, many people view them as mysterious.
Dere Period
Risa Takizawa (center) with Mafuyu Himuro and Maria Seido from Custom Order Maid 3D2
It is not easy to get intimate with them, but they will show you deep affection when you do.
Differences From Other Archetypes
Rindere characters have a very similar vibe to the cool (calm and collected) nature of a kuudere character, however, the biggest difference is that unlike a kuudere character they will still show emotions, just with a mature, calm, and strict attitude. A rindere character also doesn't give off a chillingly cold "leave me alone and don't talk to me" aura like a kuudere character does. A rindere character will also not make blunt verbal jabs at people because they want to be left alone like a kuudere character does, they would only scold others for acting out since they have a caring big sister personality.
Rindere chargers are similar to oujodere characters in that they both act dignified and ladylike, however, oujodere characters don't have a cool exterior that hides their sweet and caring side. Rindere are also more reserved and will not be as openly cheerful.
Similar Japanese Archetypes
- Anegohada: A term for a female character with an older sister disposition who has a natural inclination to care for others.
- Cool Beauty: A term for a beautiful female character who has a calm, dignified, elegant, and confident aura. It does not simply mean a beautiful woman, but also a woman who is independent and has her own strong opinions. Other images of the term include a good figure, a calm demeanor, elegance, and a sharp beauty. It could be seen as a non-dere side required and beautiful version of rindere.
- Kuudere: A term for a character who appears expressionless and unapproachable at first glance, but becomes cute, loving, and deredere around their love interest.
- Oujodere: A term for a female character who has a strict dignified exterior and behaves with perfect ladylike manners like a true princess in public but turns cute and affectionate when alone with their love interest.
List of Characters
See Rindere/Japanese Characters to see characters from Japanese media.
See Rindere/Non-Japanese Characters to see characters from non-Japanese media.
Gallery
 Risa Takizawa from Custom Order Maid 3D2  Alice Lendrott from Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid  Nico Robin from ONE PIECE  Kamiya from Miss Shikimori Is Not Just Cute  Merlin from Seven Deadly Sins  Yuko Ichihara from xxxHOLiC |
References
- ↑ Custom Order Maid 3D2 - It's a Night Magic. COM3D2 (2018/02/23). “Rindere: A mature, dignified woman who is usually cool, but sometimes gets sweet and friendly. Risa Takizawa: Speaks her own opinion; independent and mature lady. Since she has an older-sister like quality, All men and women admire and depend on her. Although she is independent and mature, she is inexperienced with relationships, so she is not very knowledgeable about romances. It is not easy to get intimate with her, but she might show you her deep affection once you do...”
- ↑ Takizawa Risa. Visual Novel Database (2019/11/10). “A Rindere is similar yet different to the common Coodere in that one still very much shows emotions, mostly with a mature, calm and strict attitude while in contrary to a Tsundere those emotions are not a facade. Of course the -dere part still very much means that they care.”
| v • eDere Types | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Standard |
Bakadere ♥ Biridere ♥ Bokodere ♥ Butsudere ♥ Dandere ♥ Darudere ♥ Deredere ♥ Dorodere ♥ Erodere ♥ Gandere ♥ Goudere ♥ Gundere ♥ Hajidere ♥ Himedere ♥ Hinedere ♥ Kamidere ♥ Kichidere ♥ Kiridere ♥ Kuudere ♥ M Dere ♥ Nyandere ♥ Onidere ♥ Rindere ♥ Roshidere ♥ S Dere ♥ Shindere ♥ Shundere ♥ Tsundere ♥ Tsuyodere ♥ Undere ♥ Usodere ♥ Utsudere ♥ Uzadere ♥ Wandere ♥ Yandere (Yanderu) ♥ Yandere (Yankii) ♥ Yoidere ♥ Zondere ♥ | |
| Variations |
Deretsun ♥ Tsun-Aho ♥ Tsun-Ama ♥ Tsunbaka ♥ Tsundora ♥ Tsunneko ♥ Tsun-Pure ♥ Tsunpuri ♥ Tsunshun ♥ Tsuntere ♥ | ||
| Western | Standard |
Bocchandere ♥ Byoukidere ♥ Kanedere ♥ Kekkondere ♥ Nemuidere ♥ Oujidere ♥ Oujodere ♥ Smugdere ♥ Teasedere ♥ Thugdere ♥ | |
| Variations |
Ahodere (Western) ♥ Kamidere (Western) ♥ Kidere ♥ Mayadere (Western) ♥ Megadere (Western) ♥ | ||
| Other | |||