小さな花
chiisana hana
The English phrase "little flower" is translated into Japanese as 小さな花 (chiisana hana).
小さな花 is used to describe a flower that is small in size.
Which one should you use?
While 小さな花 and 小さい花 both mean "small flower", 小さな is often perceived as more descriptive or literary, whereas 小さい is a standard adjective.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 小さな is a pre-noun adjectival form that must directly precede a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
chiisana hana
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 花 is used in the term 花火 to mean 'fireworks', which literally translates to 'fire flowers'.
- In traditional Japanese theater, the term 花 is used to describe the 'charm' or 'charisma' an actor possesses that captivates the audience.
- In Japanese poetry and literature, the 小さな花 often serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and the beauty of fragility, a concept known as mono no aware.
Examples in context
- 道端に小さな花が咲いています。Michibata ni chiisana hana ga saite imasu.A little flower is blooming by the roadside.
- この小さな花はとても綺麗ですね。Kono chiisana hana wa totemo kirei desu ne.This little flower is very beautiful, isn't it?
- 庭に小さな花を植えました。Niwa ni chiisana hana o uemashita.I planted a little flower in the garden.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Yui are walking in a park.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、見て。あそこに小さな花があるよ。Yui, mite. Asoko ni chiisana hana ga aru yo.Yui, look. There is a little flower over there.
- 結衣 Yui本当だ！とてもかわいいね。Hontō da! Totemo kawaii ne.You're right! It's very cute.
- 大翔 Hiroto名前は何だろうね。Namae wa nan darō ne.I wonder what its name is.
- 結衣 Yui後で調べてみよう。Ato de shirabete miyō.Let's look it up later.
