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Definition 2024


小さな

小さな

Japanese

Kanji in this term
ちい
Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Adjective

小さな (hiragana ちいさな, romaji chīsana, historical hiragana ちひさな)

  1. (of size or amount) small, little, tiny
  2. (of age) young, little

Usage notes

This term may only be used to directly modify a noun. In this grammatical role, it may be used largely interchangeably with 小さい (chīsai), the -i adjective form. In predicative use, only 小さい (chīsai) may be used: あれ*小さ (are wa *chīsa da) is incorrect grammar. Also, there is no adverbial form *小さに (*chīsa ni), only the regular -ku adverbial form 小さく (chīsaku) of the -i adjective 小さい (chīsai).

Antonyms

Related terms

References

  1. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9