Chiisai is a Japanese adjective for ‘small’, explained

How to say “small” in Japanese

There are many ways to say “small” in Japanese, but native speakers would use “chiisai”. In this blog post, I will explain its definition and meaning and how to use it through an example sentence. I will also explain its major conjugations that native speakers often use in daily conversations. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand how to use “chiisai” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• What does “chiisai” mean in Japanese?
  • Example #1: how to say “small” in Japanese
• Nai form of “chiisai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not small” in Japanese
• Ta form of “chiisai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was small” in Japanese
• Te form of “chiisai”
  • Example #4: how to say “small and” in Japanese
• Ba form of “chiisai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if small” in Japanese
• Summary

What does “chiisai” mean in Japanese?

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “chiisai”.

• chiisai – 小さい (ちいさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘small’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers normally use this i-adjective to describe something small in size or amount. Depending on the words used together, therefore, it can also mean ‘tiny’, ‘little’, ‘fine’, or such.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “small” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• inu – 犬 (いぬ) : a noun meaning ‘dog’. This can also work as a plural noun meaning ‘dogs’. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after the noun phrase, “watashi no inu”, to make the subject in the sentence.

Thsi is a typical usage of “chiisai”. In this example, it works as a complement. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier before a noun. So, for example, we can say “chiisai inu” to mean ‘a small dog’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to say “small” in Japanese, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “chiisai”. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “chiisakunai”.

Nai form of “chiisai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “chiisakunai”.

• chiisakunai – 小さくない (ちいさくない) : the nai form of “chiisai”, meaning ‘not small’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “chiisakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• chiisaku – 小さく (ちいさく) : one conjugation of “chiisai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two components, we can understand that “chiisakunai” is literally the nai form of “chiisai” and means ‘not small’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not small” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “chiisakunai”. When we want to say “not small” in Japanese, this nai form is a very good choice.

Ta form of “chiisai”

Next, let me explain the definition and meaning of “chiisakatta”.

• chiisakatta – 小さかった (ちいさかった) : the ta form of “chiisai”, meaning ‘was small’ or ‘were small’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “chiisakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• chiisakat – 小さかっ (ちいさかっ) : one conjugation of “chiisai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ta form.

From these two components, we can understand that “chiisakatta” is literally the ta form of “chiisai”. In Japanese, ta forms of words can work as their past tense forms. So, we can use “chiisakatta” to mean ‘was small’ or ‘were small’ in Japanese. Let me explain its usage through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was small” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• mukashi – 昔 (むかし) : a noun meaning ‘the past’ in Japanese, but often used as an adverb to say “before”. In this example, actually, it works as an adverb to say “before”.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, ‘as well’, or such. In this example, this works after the noun phrase, “kare no inu”, to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’.

This is a typical usage of “chiisakatta”. When we want to say “was small” in Japanese, this ta form is a very good option.

Te form of “chiisai”

Next, let me explain the definition and meaning of “chiisakute”.

• chiisakute – 小さくて (ちいさくて) : the te form of “chiisai”, meaning ‘small’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “chiisakute” consists of the following two parts:

• chiisaku – 小さく (ちいさく) : one conjugation of “chiisai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two components, we can understand that “chiisakute” is literally the te form of “chiisai”. In Japanese, te forms of words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. Actually, “chiisakute” is very useful when we want to use “chiisai” before another adjective or a verb with a smooth connection. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “small and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kawaii – 可愛い (かわいい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cute’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “chiisakute”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with the i-adjective, “kawaii”. When we want to use “chiisai” before another adjective with a smooth connection, its te form is useful.

Ba form of “chiisai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “chiisakereba”.

• chiisakereba – 小さければ (ちいさければ) : the ba form of “chiisai”, making a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘small’.

Grammatically, “chiisakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• chiisakere – 小さけれ (ちいさけれ) : one conjugation of “chiisai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two components, we can understand that “chiisakereba” is literally the ba form of “chiisai”. In Japanese, ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “chiisakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘small’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if small” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• heya – 部屋 (へや) : a noun meaning ‘room’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this works after “heya” to make the subject word in the conditional clause.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this works after “inu” to make the object word in the second clause.
• dashi – 出し (だし) : one conjugation of the verb, “dasu”, which means ‘to let [something] out’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• kudasai – ください : the command form of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When it follows a verb, however, it works as an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ to the preceding verb.

This is a typical usage of “chiisakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “heya ga chiisakereba”, which means ‘if the room is small’. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘small’, this ba form is very useful.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “chiisai” and its major conjugations with the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• chiisai – 小さい (ちいさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘small’ in Japanese. This can work as both a complement and a modifier.
• chiisakunai – 小さくない (ちいさくない) : the nai form of “chiisai”, meaning ‘not small’ in Japanese.
• chiisakatta – 小さかった (ちいさかった) : the ta form of “chiisai”, meaning ‘was small’ or ‘were small’ in Japanese.
• chiisakute – 小さくて (ちいさくて) : the te form of “chiisai”, meaning ‘small’ in Japanese. This is useful when we want to use “chiisai” before another adjective or a verb with a smooth connection.
• chiisakereba – 小さければ (ちいさければ) : the ba form of “chiisai”, making a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘small’.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.