Japanese word

小柄

Pronunciation

Romajikogara

Meaning

  • na-adjectivepetite

Example

彼女は小柄です。kano jo wa ko gara de su

She is petite.

Illustration for 小柄 (petite)

More examples

小柄な選手でも、体格に合う道具を選べば力を発揮できます。ko gara na sen shu de mo tai kaku ni a u dō gu o era be ba chikara o hak ki de ki ma su

Even a petite athlete can perform well by choosing equipment that fits their build.

Core concept

Describes a 小柄 (kogara) person as having a small overall build rather than merely being short.

Common phrases

  • 小柄な体格ko gara na tai kaku

    petite build

  • 小柄な人ko gara na hito

    petite person

Similar words

小作りkozukuri: Describes a person with a small, compact build and small, neat features.
華奢kyasha: Describes a person with a slender, delicate build.
小ぶりkoburi: Describes a person whose build is somewhat smaller than the usual size.

Definition in Japanese

身長や体つきが普通より小さいさま。shin chō ya karada tsu ki ga fu tsū yo ri chii sa i sa ma

Word origin

The Japanese compound 小柄 (kogara) combines 小 (ko, "small") with 柄 (gara, "body build"), giving the sense of a small frame.

Usage tips

  • In English, petite commonly describes a woman who is short and small-framed and also labels clothing made for shorter proportions, so it is more specific than simply small.

Opposites

Related words

  • 小柄さkogarasapetite staturenoun

Word lists with this word