“Small” in Japanese is 小さい (ちいさい), pronounced chiisai.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Small or little. Like 大きい, it has an alternative form before nouns: 小さな.
Example sentences
- 小さい部屋です。ちいさいへやです。It’s a small room.
- この靴は少し小さいです。このくつはすこしちいさいです。These shoes are a little small.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 小さい. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 小さい ちいさい | small |
| Polite present | 小さいです ちいさいです | is small |
| Negative | 小さくないです ちいさくないです | isn’t small |
| Past | 小さかったです ちいさかったです | was small |
| Past negative | 小さくなかったです ちいさくなかったです | wasn’t small |
| て-form | 小さくて ちいさくて | small and… |
| Adverb (く) | 小さく ちいさく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say small in Japanese?
Small in Japanese is 小さい (ちいさい), pronounced “chiisai”.
How do you write small in Japanese?
It's written 小さい with kanji, or ちいさい in hiragana. Both are read chiisai.
Is 小さい on the JLPT?
Yes. 小さい (chiisai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.