How to say "compact" in Japanese

• コンパクトCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers the adjective sense: small and neatly arranged so as to take up little space. A direct loanword from English, it is the natural choice for objects or designs whose size is compact.
  コンパクト型がたにはおしゃれなデザインが多おおいですね。↗

  There are many smart designs among the compact models, aren't there?
• 契約けいやくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers the noun sense of compact as a formal agreement or contract between parties. When compact means an agreement rather than small size or concise style, this is the word you want.
  契約けいやくはかなりいいかげんなものだった。↗

  The contract was rather loose.
• 簡潔かんけつJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers the adjective sense applied to style: compact in the sense of concise, brief, succinct. Use it for writing or speech that gets the point across in few words, not for physical smallness.
  簡潔かんけつは機知きちの精髄せいずい。↗

  Brevity is the soul of wit.
• 掟おきてCommon
  nounA marginal match for compact: this word really means the rules or code that a group lives by. It is seldom the word you want for compact; for the agreement sense use 契約.

Use 「コンパクト」 for the size sense, small and taking up little space; 簡潔 for concise, compact style; 契約 when compact is a noun for a formal agreement; and 掟 hardly ever, as it really means a group's rules or code.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• コンパクトcompact
• 契約けいやくcontract
• 簡潔かんけつconcise
• 掟おきてlaw
• ちまちまsmall
• ハンディーcompact
• 締め固めるしめかためるto compact
• ハンディタイプcompact
• コンパクトサイズcompact-size
• 引き締まったひきしまったlean
• 無駄のないむだのないeconomical