This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

Reading

Kana:
Romaji: sa
Kana
Romaji

Definition

1

narrow; thin

Kanji

Readings: キョウ、 コウ、 せま.い、 せば.める、 せば.まる、 さ
Meanings: cramped, narrow, contract, tight
Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small

Example Sentences

(せま)(もん)より(はい)れ。
➥Enter by the narrow gate.
Full Entry➤
両者(りょうしゃ)(みぞ)(せば)まった。
➥The gap between them has narrowed.
Full Entry➤
(わたし)(いえ)(にわ)がせまい。
➥My house has a small yard.
Full Entry➤
世間(せけん)(せま)いですね。
➥It is a small world!
Full Entry➤
この部屋(へや)狭苦(せまくる)しい。
➥This room is cramped.
Full Entry➤
なんて(せま)階段(かいだん)なんだ。
➥What narrow stairs!
Full Entry➤
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Readings

Kana: ささ、さざ
Romaji: sasa, saza
Kana
Romaji

Definition

1

small; little

See also: さざ波

Kanji

Readings: サイ、 ほそ.い、 ほそ.る、 こま.か、 こま.かい
Meanings: dainty, get thin, taper, slender, narrow, detailed, precise
Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small

Example Sentences

(かれ)繊細(せんさい)だ。
➥He is delicate.
Full Entry➤
(ほそ)(なが)(あい)して。
➥Love me lithe, love me long.
Full Entry➤
詳細(しょうさい)には(ろん)じなかった。
➥I didn't go into details.
Full Entry➤
ささいな(こと)だ。
➥It is a trivial matter.
Full Entry➤
(ほそ)(なわ)(むち)(つく)った。
➥They made a whip out of cords.
Full Entry➤
(ほそ)(あい)して(なが)(あい)して。
➥Love me little, love me long.
Full Entry➤
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Reading

Kana:
Romaji: o
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

1

small; narrow

See also: 小川
2

familiar prefix

See also: 小野
3

slightly; a bit

See also: 小暗い

Kanji

Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small

Example Sentences

(ねこ)小判(こばん)
➥Cast pearls before swine.
Full Entry➤
(あし)小指(こゆび)(いた)む。
➥I have a pain in my little toe.
Full Entry➤
小切手(こぎって)支払(しはら)う。
➥I will pay for it by check.
Full Entry➤
(だい)か、(しょう)か。
➥Large or small?
Full Entry➤
小川(おがわ)(みず)()む。
➥Drink water from a stream.
Full Entry➤
この(ほん)(ちい)さい。
➥This book is small.
Full Entry➤
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Reading

Kana: ぐゎー
Romaji: guxwa-
Kana
Romaji

Definition

suf
1

small; little; dear (figurative sense)

(Ryuukyuu-ben)

Kanji

Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small

Example Sentences

(ねこ)小判(こばん)
➥Cast pearls before swine.
Full Entry➤
(あし)小指(こゆび)(いた)む。
➥I have a pain in my little toe.
Full Entry➤
小切手(こぎって)支払(しはら)う。
➥I will pay for it by check.
Full Entry➤
(だい)か、(しょう)か。
➥Large or small?
Full Entry➤
小川(おがわ)(みず)()む。
➥Drink water from a stream.
Full Entry➤
この(ほん)(ちい)さい。
➥This book is small.
Full Entry➤
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Reading

Kana:
Romaji: ko
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

1

small; little; slight

See also: 小皿
2

slightly less than; just about

See also: 小半日 (reading じゃく, entry #1)
3

somewhat; somehow

See also: こざっぱり
4

minor (sometimes derogatory); petty

See also: 小役人

Kanji

Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small

Example Sentences

(ねこ)小判(こばん)
➥Cast pearls before swine.
Full Entry➤
(あし)小指(こゆび)(いた)む。
➥I have a pain in my little toe.
Full Entry➤
小切手(こぎって)支払(しはら)う。
➥I will pay for it by check.
Full Entry➤
(だい)か、(しょう)か。
➥Large or small?
Full Entry➤
小川(おがわ)(みず)()む。
➥Drink water from a stream.
Full Entry➤
この(ほん)(ちい)さい。
➥This book is small.
Full Entry➤
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Reading

Kana: しょう
Romaji: shō
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

1

smallness; small item

2

short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days)

See also: 小の月
3

elementary school

Note: abbreviation
See also: 小学校
4

younger or inferior (of two items or people with the same name)

5

unit of field area (approx. 400 sq m)

Note: archaism

Kanji

Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small

Example Sentences

(ねこ)小判(こばん)
➥Cast pearls before swine.
Full Entry➤
(あし)小指(こゆび)(いた)む。
➥I have a pain in my little toe.
Full Entry➤
小切手(こぎって)支払(しはら)う。
➥I will pay for it by check.
Full Entry➤
(だい)か、(しょう)か。
➥Large or small?
Full Entry➤
小川(おがわ)(みず)()む。
➥Drink water from a stream.
Full Entry➤
この(ほん)(ちい)さい。
➥This book is small.
Full Entry➤
Find More