小柄・小がら|こがらkogara[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
小柄小柄 is the most common written form and is written entirely in kanji. For beginners, this is the form to use by default.
小がら小がら is less common than 小柄 and combines kanji with kana. It may appear as a variant spelling, but learners should generally choose 小柄 instead.
Definitions
- na-adjective, no-adjectivesmall build; small stature; petite
- na-adjective, no-adjectivesmall pattern
Conjugation
| Plain form | 小柄（こがら） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 小柄です（こがらです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 小柄ではない（こがらではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 小柄ではありません（こがらではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 小柄だった（こがらだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 小柄ではなかった（こがらではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 小柄で（こがらで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 小柄に（こがらに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 小柄なら（こがらなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym小さいちいさいNeutralThe most general word for 'small'; it applies to anything, not just a person's build, while 「小柄」 is limited to a petite figure or a small pattern.
- Synonym小作りこづくりNeutralRefers to a small, slightly built frame; less common than 「小柄」, which is also the word for describing small patterns.
- Antonym大柄おおがらNeutralThe antonym: describes a large build or large patterns, standing opposite to 「小柄」 in both body size and pattern scale.
Use 「小柄」 for a petite person or a small pattern, as in 「小柄な女性」. For small things in general use 「小さい」; 「小作り」 also covers a small-framed build but is less common. The antonym is 「大柄」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
