How do you say "narrow" in Japanese?

狭い

Semai

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "narrow" is 狭い (Semai).

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Pronunciation

狭い is written using kanji. Romanised as Semai, it sounds roughly like "seh-mah-ee" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Semai (狭い) is an i-adjective for narrow or small spaces. The opposite is hiroi (wide), and these adjectives are often heard together when describing Japanese homes or streets.

Example sentence

この道はとても狭いです。

Kono michi wa totemo semai desu.

This road is very narrow.

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How to remember 狭い

The kanji 狭 uses an animal radical, suggesting a confined space where an animal might be trapped. Picture something squeezed tight.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 狭い

How do you pronounce 狭い?

狭い is romanised as Semai. Say it roughly like "seh-mah-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 狭い formal or casual?

狭い is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 狭い written in Japanese?

狭い is written using kanji. Semai (狭い) is an i-adjective for narrow or small spaces.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Narrow" in other languages

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