小さな
Japanese
Kanji in this term |
---|
小 |
ちい Grade: 1 |
kun’yomi |
Etymology
Appears starting from the Muromachi period. Derived as the -na adjective construction of -i adjective 小さい (chīsai, “small, little”). See that entry for further details.
Pronunciation
- (Tokyo) ちいさな [chíꜜìsànà] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
- IPA(key): [t͡ɕiːsa̠na̠]
Adnominal
小さな • (chīsana) ←ちひさな (tifisana)?
- (of size or amount) small, little, tiny
- 小さな本屋
- chīsana hon'ya
- small bookstore
- 小さな本屋
- (of extent, scale or importance) small, minor
- 小さな被害で済む
- chīsana higai de sumu
- to end up with minor damage
- 小さな被害で済む
- (of age) young, little
- 小さな時からの友人
- chīsana toki kara no yūjin
- friend from childhood
- 小さな時からの友人
Usage notes
This term may only be used to directly modify a noun. In this grammatical role, it may be used largely interchangeably with 小さい (chīsai), the -i adjective form. In predicative use, only 小さい may be used; あれは*小さだ (are wa *chīsa da) is incorrect grammar. Also, there is no adverbial form *小さに (*chīsa ni), only the regular -ku adverbial form 小さく (chīsaku) of the -i adjective 小さい.
Antonyms
- 大きな (ōkina, “big, large”)
Derived terms
- 小っちゃな (chitchana)
Related terms
- 小さい (chīsai)
References
- 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN