How to say "miniature" in Japanese

• 小型こがたCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers the small-sized, small-scale sense of 'miniature': it describes something as smaller than usual for its kind. Use it when the point of the English is simply that the thing is small.
  大型おおがたと小型こがたの２台だいの飛行機ひこうきが、ハンガー内ないで停止ていししていました。↗

  Two airplanes, one large and one small, were at rest in the hangar.
• ミニチュアCommon
  noun, prenominal modifierThe loanword, matching English 'miniature' directly. It is the natural choice for a small-scale replica or model — the noun use of English 'miniature'.

For 'miniature' describing a thing's size — small-sized or small-scale — use 小型; for the small-scale replica or model sense, the loanword 「ミニチュア」 is the word to reach for.

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

• 小型こがたsmall-sized
• ミニチュアminiature
• 細密画さいみつがminiature (painting, portrait, etc.)
• 小照しょうしょうminiature
• 雛形ひながたmodel
• 小世界しょうせかいsmall world
• まめsmall