背が低い
se ga hikui
The phrase for "someone is short" in Japanese is 背が低い (se ga hikui).
背が低い is used to describe a person's physical height. It is a neutral and descriptive way to state the fact that someone has a small stature compared to others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 背 (stature/height), followed by the particle が which marks the subject and the adjective 低い (low).
Which one should you use?
To express the opposite quality, that someone is tall, you replace the adjective 低い (low) with 高い (high) to say 背が高い.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle が is used here to mark 背 (height) as the subject that possesses the quality of being 低い (low).
How do you pronounce it?
se ga hikui
Did you know?
- The term チビ (chibi), often used in pop culture to mean 'small' or 'cute', is actually a derogatory slang term for short people and can cause offense in real life.
- The word for height, 背 (se), is the exact same word used to refer to a person's physical back, linking the concept of stature directly to the anatomy of the spine.
- To avoid the bluntness of 背が低い, Japanese speakers often use the word 小柄 ('small-framed') to describe a short person more politely.
Examples in context
- 彼女は背が低いですね。She is short, isn't she?
- あの人は小さいね。That person is short, right?
- 田中さんは背が低い。Tanaka is short.
- 弟は背が低いです。Otouto wa se ga hikui desu.My younger brother is short.
- あの選手は背が低いですね。Ano senshu wa se ga hikui desu ne.That athlete is short, isn't he?
- 背が低い人と付き合いたいです。Se ga hikui hito to tsukiaitai desu.I want to date someone who is short.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a famous basketball player.
- 美咲 Misakiあの選手、背が低いね。Ano senshu, se ga hikui ne.That player is short, isn't he?
- 陽太 Yotaでも、すごく速いよ！Demo, sugoku hayai yo!But he is really fast!
- 美咲 Misaki確かに、陽太くんの言う通りだね。Tashika ni, Youta-kun no iu toori da ne.True, you're right, Youta.
- 陽太 Yota技術がすごいんだよ。Gijutsu ga sugoi n da yo.His technique is amazing.
