小さい
chiisai[t͡ɕiːsa̠i]
In Japanese, the word for "little" is 小さい (chiisai).
小さい is used to describe the physical dimensions or scale of an object or person, meaning "small in size".
Meaning: small in size (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use 小さい to refer specifically to physical size. If you want to describe a small quantity or say there is "not much" of something, use 少ない. To describe a "small amount" of something, you can use 少し or ちょっと.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past tense of 小さい, use 小さかった (was small). To express the negative, use 小さくない (is not small).
How do you pronounce it?
chiisai
Did you know?
- The adverb ちょっと (chotto) is used not only for size but as a polite way to decline an invitation or stall for time.
- The term ちび (chibi), often used to describe small, cute characters, likely traces its history back to 粒 (tsubu), meaning a small round grain like rice.
- The sound 'chi' appears consistently across many different Japanese words that denote smallness, such as ちび (chibi) and ちいさな (chiisana).
Examples in context
- トムは小さい子供です。Tom is a little kid.This sentence shows how to use 小さい to describe a child.Tatoeba #11101237 by small_snow, translation #7737621 by CK
- 小さい頃からの夢でした。It's been my dream since I was a little boy.This sentence uses 小さい to describe a time from when someone was young.Tatoeba #11630307 by small_snow, translation #1113720 by Scott
- もう少し小さいのはありますか。Do you have one a little smaller?This sentence uses the form 小さい to ask for a smaller size.Tatoeba #194094 by small_snow, translation #31263 by CK
- 申し訳ありませんが、少しお待ちいただけますか。Excuse me, can you wait for a little bit?
- 少し時間がかかります。It will take a little time.
- 少々お待ちください。Please wait for a moment.
- 少々お待ちいただけますか。Can you wait for a little bit?
- 少々お待たせしました。Sorry to keep you waiting for a little while.
- ちょっと待ってください。Please wait a moment.
- ちょっと教えてもらえますか。Can you tell me a bit?
- ちょっと高いですね。It's a bit expensive, isn't it?
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are looking at a puppy in a pet shop.
- 美咲 Misaki見て！この子、すごく小さいね。Mite! Kono ko, sugoku chiisai ne.Look! This one is very little.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。手のひらに乗りそうだよ。Hontou da. Tenohira ni norisou da yo.You're right. It looks like it would fit in your palm.
- 美咲 Misaki小さい犬は本当に可愛いね。Chiisai inu wa hontou ni kawaii ne.Little dogs are really cute, aren't they?
- 健太 Kentaそうだね。一緒に飼いたいな。Sou da ne. Issho ni kaitai na.Yeah. I want to have one together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little” translations and entries 小さい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 小さい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
