Japanese · Adjectives
小さい
chiisai
Small / Little
Beginneradjective
Definition
An i-adjective describing something of small size. The kanji 小 (shou/ko) also appears in compounds such as 小学校 (shougakkou, elementary school).
Example
その猫はとても小さいですね。
That cat is very small, isn't it.
Etymology
'小さい' (chiisai) combines '小' (shou, meaning 'small') with 'い' (i, an adjectival ending). The term has existed in the language for centuries to denote size.
How & Where It’s Used
'小さい' is widely used in both spoken and written Japanese, applicable in both formal and informal contexts when describing objects or concepts.