How to say "thin" in Japanese

• 薄いうすいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe adjective for an object that is thin in thickness — a thin slice, sheet, or layer. It also describes weak (thin soup or coffee) and pale colors.
  肉にくを薄うすく切きりなさい。↗

  Cut the meat into thin slices.
• 細いほそいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThin as in slender or fine: small in width, girth, or diameter — a thin thread, a slender figure, a narrow waist. Where 薄い describes little thickness, this describes narrowness.
  彼かれは太ふとっているくせに声こえは細ほそい。↗

  His voice is thin even though he is fat.
• 薄手うすでCommon
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveDescribes paper, cloth, porcelain and similar goods that are of thin make, and light garments such as a coat. The term for discussing the weight or thinness of a material or garment.
• 薄めるうすめるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb: use it when 'thin' is an action — to dilute or water something down, or to lighten a color, as in thinning a sauce or paint.
• まばらCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'thin' in the sense of sparse or scattered — a thin crowd, scattered houses, straggling vegetation. It describes things unevenly and sparsely distributed, and is usually written in kana alone.
  ９月がつの海うみは、人ひとがまばらだね。↗

  In September, there are just a few people here and there on the beach.

Choose 「薄い」 for objects thin in thickness, 「細い」 for things thin in width or girth, 薄手 for materials of thin make, 「薄める」 when 'thin' is a verb, and 「まばら」 for a sparse, scattered 'thin'.

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

• 薄いうすいthin (of an object)
• 細いほそいthin
• 薄手うすでthin (paper, cloth, porcelain, etc.)
• 薄めるうすめるto dilute
• まばらsparse
• 希薄きはくthin (air)
• シンthin
• 狭さnarrow
• 薄型うすがたthin (type)
• か細いかぼそいthin
• 薄刃うすばthin (blade)
• 分が薄いぶがうすいthin
• 細っこいほそっこいthin
• 痩せたやせたthin
• 地薄じうすthin (fabric, cloth, paper)
• 肉薄にくうすthin (of meat)
• うすらslight
• すかすかfull of openings
• 薄うすlight (e.g color, fabric)
• 細身ほそみslender (figure, build)
• 薄口うすくちthin (porcelain, ceramic, etc.)
• さらりthin (of a liquid)
• べらべらthin
• へらへらthin (paper, cloth, etc.)
• 梳くすくto thin (hair)
• 薄造りうすづくりthin (e.g. ceramics, glass)
• ぺらぺらthin (paper, cloth, etc.)