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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "small" in Japanese?
小さい
Chiisai
In Japanese, "small" is 小さい (Chiisai).
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Pronunciation
小さい is written using kanji. Romanised as Chiisai, it sounds roughly like "chee-sah-ee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Chiisai (小さい) is an i-adjective meaning small or little. It describes size, volume of sound, or age, and is the direct opposite of ookii (big).
Example sentence
この猫はとても小さいです。
Kono neko wa totemo chiisai desu.
This cat is very small.
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How to remember 小さい
The kanji 小 looks like a simple shape becoming smaller. Three vertical lines converge upward, suggesting something shrinking.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 小さい
How do you pronounce 小さい?
小さい is romanised as Chiisai. Say it roughly like "chee-sah-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 小さい formal or casual?
小さい 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 小さい written in Japanese?
小さい is written using kanji. Chiisai (小さい) is an i-adjective meaning small or little.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Small" in other languages
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