Progress is saved in this browser. Log in to keep it permanently and sync across devices.

JLPT N4 Grammar

～小さい/少ない/短い

N4Other

N4 · Other · 小さい / 少ない / 短い

small/few/short distinction

小さい / 少ない / 短い

小さい describes small size, 少ない describes few in number, and 短い describes short length or time.

All may translate to a kind of 'small/short,' but they collocate with different nouns.

この箱は小さいですが、中のりんごは少なくありません。

This box is small, but there are not few apples inside.

For a small number of people, use 少ない, not 小さい.

Memorize “小さい/少ない/短い” as one fixed chunk, then practice by replacing words in the example sentence. Learn the connection first, then the nuance.

New

Mastery0%

Times Reviewed: 0

Last Reviewed: Never

Next Review: Not scheduled

If this grammar card helped you, consider buying the author a coffee.