Semai is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’

What does “semai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “semai” to mean ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “semai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “semai”
  • Example #1: how to say “narrow” in Japanese
• Semakunai: the nai form of “semai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not cramped” in Japanese
• Semakatta: the ta form of “semai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was cramped” in Japanese
• Semakute: the te form of “semai”
  • Example #4: how to say “small and” in Japanese
• Semakereba: the ba form of “semai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if small” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “semai”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “semai”.

• semai – 狭い (せまい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something small in width. So, the usage is similar to those of the English adjectives written above, I think.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “michi” to say “this street” in Japanese.
• michi – 道 (みち) : a noun meaning ‘street’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono michi” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “semai”. In the example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “kono semai michi” to mean ‘this narrow street’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘narrow’ in Japanese, this i-adjective is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “semai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “semakunai”.

Semakunai: the nai form of “semai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “semakunai”.

• semakunai – 狭くない (せまくない) : the nai form of “semai”, which means ‘not narrow’, ‘not small’, or ‘not cramped’ in Japanese.

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

• semaku – 狭く (せまく) : one conjugation of “semai”. 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 similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “semakunai” is literally the nai form of “semai” and means ‘not narrow’, ‘not small’, or ‘not cramped’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its possessive case, “boku no”, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• heya – 部屋 (へや) : a noun meaning ‘room’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “semakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not cramped’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Semakatta: the ta form of “semai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “semakatta”.

• semakatta – 狭かった (せまかった) : the ta form of “semai”, which means ‘was narrow’, ‘was small’, ‘was cramped’, or such in Japanese.

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

• semakat – 狭かっ (せまかっ) : one conjugation of “semai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “semakatta” is literally the ta form of “semai” and means ‘was narrow’, ‘was small’, ‘was cramped’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• kyoushitsu – 教室 (きょうしつ) : a noun meaning ‘classroom’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works in front of “semakatta” to emphasize its meaning.

This is a typical usage of “semakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “semai”, this ta form is the best option.

Semakute: the te form of “semai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “semakute”.

• semakute – 狭くて (せまくて) : the te form of “semai”, which means ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese.

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

• semaku – 狭く (せまく) : one conjugation of “semai”. 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 parts, we can understand that “semakute” is literally the te form of “semai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “semakute” is very useful when we want to use “semai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• sekai – 世界 (せかい) : a noun meaning ‘world’ in Japanese.
• hiroi – 広い (ひろい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘wide’, ‘broad’, or ‘spacious’ in Japanese. In the example, this has been translated as just ‘big’, though.

This is a typical usage of “semakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “hiroi”. When we want to use “semai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Semakereba: the ba form of “semai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “semakereba”.

• semakereba – 狭ければ (せまければ) : the ba form of “semai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese.

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

• semakere – 狭けれ (せまけれ) : one conjugation of “semai”. 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 parts, we can understand that “semakereba” is literally the ba form of “semai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “semakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’. 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.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “heya” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• oshie – 教え (おしえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “oshieru“, which means ‘to tell’, ‘to teach’, or just ‘to let someone know’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “semakute”. In the example, this is used after “oshie” to make its te form, “oshie te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “oshie te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “semakereba”. In the example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “heya ga semakereba”, which means ‘if your room is small’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “semai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• semai – 狭い (せまい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• semakunai – 狭くない (せまくない) : the nai form of “semai”, which means ‘not narrow’, ‘not small’, or ‘not cramped’ in Japanese.
• semakatta – 狭かった (せまかった) : the ta form of “semai”, which means ‘was narrow’, ‘was small’, ‘was cramped’, or such in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “semai”.
• semakute – 狭くて (せまくて) : the te form of “semai”, which means ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese. When we want to use “semai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• semakereba – 狭ければ (せまければ) : the ba form of “semai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘narrow’, ‘small’, or ‘cramped’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.