小さい
chiisai[t͡ɕiːsa̠i]
The Japanese word for small is 小さい (chiisai). If unsure, use 小さい. Wiktionary also lists 小さな (chiisana) and 狭い (semai).
Meaning: not large (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 小さい | chiisai | [t͡ɕiːsa̠i] (narrow) |
| 小さな | chiisana | [t͡ɕiːsa̠na̠] (narrow) |
| 狭い | semai | [se̞ma̠i] (narrow) |
The term is used to describe things that are not large in physical size or volume.
Which one should you use?
While 小さい is used for objective physical size, 狭い is used specifically when you mean a space is 'narrow' or 'cramped'. Additionally, 小さな often carries a more subjective, emotional or literary nuance than the more objective 小さい.
How does it change in a sentence?
小さい can function as a predicate at the end of a sentence or as an adjective placed before a noun. In contrast, 小さな is an attributive adjective that must be followed immediately by a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
chiisai
Did you know?
- The word 狭い shares a historical phonetic root with the word for 'to attack', which is 攻める. This connection exists because both words relate to the idea of closing in or pressing toward something.
- The informal term ちび (chibi), often used to mean 'small' or 'tiny', is thought to be related to the word 粒 (tsubu), which means a 'small round thing' like a grain of rice.
Examples in context
- 小さな部屋ね。It's a small room.This sentence uses 小さな to describe a small room.Tatoeba #9183307 by small_snow, translation #8962721 by DJ_Saidez
- その本は小さい。That book is small.This sentence uses 小さい to describe a book.Tatoeba #633064 by arihato, translation #633939 by blay_paul
- 本は小さいです。This book is small.Tatoeba #3471531 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #56916 by CK
- この箱は小さいです。This box is small.
- この犬は小っちゃいね！This dog is small, isn't it!
- あの車はちっこいね！That car is small, isn't it!
- 215 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are looking at a menu in a cafe.
- 結衣 Yuiこのケーキ、すごく小さいね。Kono keeki, sugoku chiisai ne.This cake is really small, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ。でも美味しそうだよ。Hontou da. Demo oishisou da yo.True. But it looks delicious.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、半分分けてくれる？Hiroto-kun, hanbun wakete kureru?Hiroto, will you share half with me?
- 大翔 Hirotoもちろん、いいよ。Mochiron, ii yo.Of course, sure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “small” translations and entries 小さい, 小さな, 狭い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 小さい, 小さな, 狭い, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
