隙間
sukima[sɨ̥kʲima̠]
The English phrase "chink" (meaning a narrow opening) is translated into Japanese as 隙間 (sukima).
隙間 is used to denote a narrow opening or a gap.
Meaning: narrow opening (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
sukima
Did you know?
- The word 間 (ma) is a foundational concept in Japanese aesthetics, representing the 'ma' or the empty space that gives meaning to the objects around it.
- You might encounter the term 隙間時間 (sukima-jikan), which refers to 'gap time' or those small pockets of free time between scheduled tasks.
- The phrase 隙を見せる literally means 'to show a gap', but it is used idiomatically to mean leaving oneself vulnerable to an attack or mistake.
Examples in context
- ドアの隙間から光が入る。Doa no sukima kara hikari ga hairu.Light comes through a chink in the door.
- 壁に小さな隙間がある。Kabe ni chiisana sukima ga aru.There is a small chink in the wall.
- 机の隙間にペンが落ちた。Tsukue no sukima ni pen ga ochita.A pen fell into a chink in the desk.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are looking for a lost ring in the living room.
- 美咲 Misaki机の隙間を探してみよう。Tsukue no sukima o sagashite miyou.Let's look in the chink in the desk.
- 健太 Kentaそこなら見つかるかもしれないね。Soko nara mitsukaru kamoshirenai ne.We might find it there.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、隙間に指が入らないよ。A, sukima ni yubi ga hairanai yo.Ah, my finger won't fit in the chink.
- 健太 Kentaもっと奥まで探してみるよ。Motto oku made sagashite miru yo.I will try searching deeper inside.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 隙間, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
