Japanese Conversation · Level 28
90 words
Japanese word
マイナー
Pronunciation
Romajimainā
Meaning
- na-adjectiveminor
Example
これはマイナーなスポーツです。ko re wa ma i nā na su pō tsu de su
This is a minor sport.
More examples
その作家は長い間、マイナーな存在でした。so no sak ka wa naga i aida ma i nā na son zai de shi ta
That writer was a minor figure for a long time.
Core concept
Refers to something that occupies a less prominent position because it is small in scale, importance, or popularity.
Common phrases
マイナーな競技ma i nā na kyō gi
minor sport
マイナーな作家ma i nā na sak ka
obscure writer
マイナーな話題ma i nā na wa dai
minor topic
Similar words
無名mumei: Refers to something that is not widely known or recognized.
非主流hishuryū: Refers to something outside the most widely accepted or popular group.
地味jimi: Describes something that is modest in appearance or character and attracts little attention.
Definition in Japanese
規模や重要性が小さく、世間での知名度や人気も高くないさま。ki bo ya jū yō sei ga chii sa ku se ken de no chi mei do ya nin ki mo taka ku na i sa ma
Word origin
マイナー (mainā) was borrowed from English minor, from Latin minor, meaning "smaller" and serving as the comparative form of parvus, "small".
Usage tips
- The phrase minor sport is natural English for a sport with less public attention, and this sense closely matches the common Japanese use of マイナー (mainā).
Other meanings
- obscurena-adjective
- unimportantna-adjective
Opposites
- メジャーmejāmajorna-adjective
Related words
- マイナー化mainākaminorizationnoun