How to say "little" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 小さいちいさいi-adjectiveCovers 'little' meaning small in size: a little house, a little dog. The adjective you reach for when you describe something as little, and it can also state the fact directly as a predicate.
- 少ないすくないi-adjectiveCovers 'little' meaning a small amount or number: little time, little money, few choices. Choose this when the point is how much or how many there is, not how big something is.この病気に勝てる人は少ない。↗Not many survive this disease.
- 小こprefixA smallness element built into larger words rather than used on its own, conveying small or slight; seldom the word you reach for when you simply mean 'little' — 小さい or 少ない serve instead.
- 小さなちいさなpre-noun adjectivalAlso 'little' in size, but used before a noun: a little cat, a little box. Unlike 小さい it does not stand as a predicate, so keep it with the noun it describes.
- na-adjective, nounThe English 'little' taken straight into katakana, found mainly in borrowed phrases and names; seldom the word you want — say 小さい or 小さな for size, 少ない for amount.
For 'little' in size choose 「小さい」 or 「小さな」, for 'little' in amount or number choose 「少ない」, treat 小 as a smallness element inside other words, and reserve 「リトル」 for borrowed phrases.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 小さいちいさいsmall
- 少ないすくないfew
- 小こsmall
- 小さなちいさなsmall
- リトルlittle
- 幼いおさないvery young
- 少しょうsmall
- 何分なにぶんsome
- ささやかsmall
- なんだか(a) little
- 軽微けいびslight
- 細ささsmall
- 小ぐゎーsmall
- ささらsmall
- 些少さしょうtrifling
- いくらかsome
- ちっちゃいtiny
- 心ばかりこころばかりsmall (token of one's gratitude, etc.)
- ちいちゃいsmall
- ちっちゃなtiny
- 幾分かいくぶんかsome
- ちっちゃこいsmall
- ちゃんこいsmall
- ちっさいsmall
- ちっさなsmall
- ちびっこいsmall
- 眇たるびょうたるsmall
- 小型こがたsmall
- ほとんどhardly
- 片かたfew
- 薄うすscarce
- かわいいdainty
- 薄いうすいweak (taste, etc.)
- かわゆいdainty
- 坊ぼうlittle
See also
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