小さい
chīsai[t͡ɕiːsa̠i]
The English phrase 'something is small' is expressed in Japanese as 小さい (chīsai).
小さい is the most common and versatile word used to describe an object that is not large in size. You may also encounter the kanji character 小, which can function as a prefix or a root to denote smallness within various compound words.
Which one should you use?
While 小さい is the standard adjective, the slang term ちび is used to describe someone or something as being small in a way that is specifically cute or adorable.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, 小さい has several inflected forms: 小さかった is used to say something 'was small', 小さくない is the negative form meaning 'is not small' and 小さければ is the conditional form meaning 'if it is small'.
How do you pronounce it?
chīsai
Did you know?
- While 小さい refers to size, Japanese also uses the word 小さい to describe a 'small' or quiet voice, whereas English speakers would typically use 'quiet' or 'soft'.
- The slang term ちび has a linguistic connection to the word 粒, which means a 'small round thing' like a grain of rice.
- In the earliest Japanese historical records from the 8th century, the concept of 'small' was often written with a character that actually means 'thin' or 'slender'.
Examples in context
- この机は小さいです。This desk is small.
- 彼は小さい犬を飼っています。He has a small dog.
- 私は少ないお金しか持っていません。I only have a small amount of money.
- 彼の部屋は少し狭いですね。His room is a bit small, isn't it?
- あのリンゴ、すごく小さい！That apple is really small!
- 彼、小さいけど元気だよね。He's small, but full of energy, right?
- あの子、ちびちゃんだね！That child is a little one!
- この靴は少し小さいです。Kono kutsu wa sukoshi chiisai desu.These shoes are a little small.
- 彼は体が小さいですね。Kare wa karada ga chiisai desu ne.He has a small build, doesn't he?
- あんなに小さい猫がいるなんて！Anna ni chiisai neko ga iru nante!I can't believe there is such a small cat!
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are looking at a new apartment together.
- 結衣 Yuiこの部屋はちょっと小さいかな。Kono heya wa chotto chiisai kana.I wonder if this room is a bit small.
- 蓮 Renそうだね。もっと広いところを探そう。Sou da ne. Motto hiroi tokoro o sagasou.You're right. Let's look for a larger place.
- 結衣 Yuiでも、家賃は安いし便利だよ。Demo, yachin wa yasui shi benri da yo.But the rent is cheap and it's convenient.
- 蓮 Renまあ、確かに便利だね。Maa, tashika ni benri da ne.Well, it is certainly convenient.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 小さい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
