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

Adnominal

小さな (hiragana ちいさな, rōmaji chīsana, historical hiragana ちひさな)

  1. (of size or amount) small, little, tiny
    小 (ちい)さな本 (ほん)屋 (や)
    chīsana hon'ya
    small bookstore
  2. (of age) young, little

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 (chīsai) 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 (chīsai).

Antonyms

References
  1. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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