小さな星
chiisana hoshi
The English phrase "little star" is translated into Japanese as 小さな星 (chiisana hoshi).
The phrase refers to a small star in the sky.
Which one should you use?
You may encounter the variation 小さい星, where 小さい is a standard adjective meaning "small star". In contrast, 小さな星 uses a pre-noun adjectival form that carries a more poetic or literary nuance, making it better suited for titles or descriptions in stories.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase the topic of a sentence, such as "As for the little star…", you can add the particle は to form 小さな星は.
How do you pronounce it?
chiisana hoshi
Did you know?
- In Japanese children's songs, like the famous 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', the title is often adapted to きらきら星, using the onomatopoeia 'kira kira' to represent the sparkling effect.
- The word 星 for 'star' is also used in Japanese to refer to a 'planet'. For example, Mars and Venus are described as 星 despite not being stars in the astronomical sense.
- The word 星 is frequently used as a metaphor for a person's destiny or fate, suggesting that one's life path is written in the stars.
Examples in context
- 空に小さな星が見えます。Sora ni chiisana hoshi ga miemasu.I can see a little star in the sky.
- あの小さな星はとても綺麗です。Ano chiisana hoshi wa totemo kirei desu.That little star is very beautiful.
- 小さな星を探しています。Chiisana hoshi o sagashite imasu.I am looking for a little star.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are looking at the night sky.
- 美咲 Misaki見て、あそこに小さな星があるよ。Mite, asoko ni chiisana hoshi ga aru yo.Look, there is a little star over there.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。すごくきれいだね。Hontō da. Sugoku kirei da ne.You're right. It's very beautiful.
- 美咲 Misakiあの小さな星の名前を知ってる？Ano chiisana hoshi no namae o shitteru?Do you know the name of that little star?
- 健太 Kentaうーん、わからないな。Ūn, wakaranai na.Hmm, I don't know.
