How to say "narrow" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 狭いせまいi-adjectiveThe basic adjective for something physically narrow, such as a road, room, or passage. It describes the objective small width of a space or thing itself.
- 窮屈きゅうくつna-adjective, nounCovers narrow or tight in the sense of feeling cramped and restricted. Use it when the narrowness makes movement or comfort difficult, as in tight clothing or a confined room.
- 細身ほそみno-adjectiveA marginal match for English 'narrow': it specifically describes a narrow or slender blade. Unless you are talking about the shape of a blade, this is seldom the word you want.
- 狭めるせばめるichidan verb, transitive verbA transitive verb meaning to narrow something, to reduce or contract its width or range. Use it when someone or something actively makes something narrower.
- 狭まるせばまるgodan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive counterpart: to narrow, to contract on its own. Use it when a gap, road, or difference becomes narrower without an agent being stated.
Use 「狭い」 for physically narrow spaces, 窮屈 for the cramped feeling they cause, 細身 for narrow blades, and the verbs 「狭める」 or 「狭まる」 when narrow is an action or change.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 狭いせまいnarrow
- 窮屈きゅうくつnarrow
- 細身ほそみnarrow (blade)
- 狭めるせばめるto narrow
- 狭まるせばまるto narrow
- 縮まるちぢまるto shorten
- 手狭てぜまnarrow
- 小幅こはばsmall
- わずかa little
- きわどいrisky
- 危なっかしいあぶなっかしいdangerous
- 狭さnarrow
- 小おsmall
- 狭小きょうしょうnarrow
- 狭隘きょうあいnarrow
- せせこましいnarrow
- 狭域きょういきnarrow
- 幅の狭いはばのせまいnarrow
- 細まるほそまるto narrow (e.g. eyes)
- ナローnarrow
- くびれるto be constricted
- 眇めるすがめるto squint (one eye)
- 僅少きんしょうa little
- 危なかしいあぶなかしいdangerous
- 詰まるつまるto be become shorter
- 矮小わいしょうnarrow (e.g. thinking)
- 細ほそslender
- 危ないあぶないclose (call)
See also
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