How to say "insignificant" in Japanese

• 安っぽいやすっぽいJLPT N1approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'insignificant' through the idea of looking cheap: a tawdry, cheap-seeming appearance makes something seem worthless. Think of gaudy ornaments or flimsy goods rather than matters of real importance.
  彼女かのじょの服ふくはとても安やすっぽい生地きじでできていた。↗

  Her dress was made of very cheap material.
• 零細れいさいCommon
  na-adjectiveDescribes businesses and industries that are tiny and marginal — a paltry, cottage-scale firm. Its 'insignificant' is essentially commercial; outside business talk it is seldom the word you want.
  零細れいさいなパン屋ぱんやはスーパーマーケットに圧倒あっとうされた。↗

  Mom-and-pop bakeries were overwhelmed by supermarkets.
• 軽微けいびCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'insignificant' meaning slight in degree — a minor injury, error, or amount of damage. Typical in official reports and announcements stating that something barely matters.
  被弾ひだんしました。ダメージは軽微けいびです。↗

  We've taken a hit. Trivial damage.
• 一介いっかいCommon
  no-adjectiveRenders 'insignificant' by belittling a person's standing: with a noun it means 'a mere ...', stressing that someone is only an ordinary member of a group. It conveys low status, not small size.
  彼かれは一介いっかいのビジネスマンにすぎない。↗

  He is nothing but a businessman.
• くだらないJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'insignificant' in the sense of trivial and not worth bothering with: silly remarks, pointless questions, worthless things. It judges worth rather than size or degree, and is usually written in kana.
  くだらない話はなしはもうたくさんだ。↗

  We have had enough of empty words.

Choose by what is insignificant and how: cheap-looking things take 「安っぽい」, tiny businesses 零細, slight injuries or errors 軽微, people dismissed as 'a mere' something take 一介, and worthless trivia 「くだらない」.

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

• 安っぽいやすっぽいcheap-looking
• 零細れいさいinsignificant
• 軽微けいびslight
• 一介いっかいa mere ...
• くだらないtrivial
• 些細ささいtrivial
• ささやかsmall
• 取るに足らないとるにたらないinsignificant
• ちっぽけvery small
• 微々びびslight
• しがないworthless
• 末梢的まっしょうてきtrivial
• 名もないなもないunknown
• くだらんtrivial
• くだらぬtrivial
• それしきtrivial
• たかの知れたたかのしれたtrifling
• 駄だpoor
• 僅少きんしょうa little
• 微少びしょうvery small
• 眇たるびょうたるsmall
• 吹けば飛ぶようふけばとぶようfrail
• ばかtrivial
• つまらないinsignificant
• 片々へんぺんinsignificant
• つまらぬinsignificant
• つまらんinsignificant
• 問題にならないもんだいにならないinsignificant
• 知れたしれたinsignificant
• 区々くくpetty
• 人畜無害じんちくむがいhaving no influence
• 小さいちいさいunimportant
• くそnegligible