Japanese word

浅い

Pronunciation

Romajiasai

Meaning

  • i-adjectiveshallow

Example

このプールは浅いです。ko no pū ru wa asa i de su

This pool is shallow.

Illustration for 浅い (shallow)

More examples

この浅い皿には、少量のソースを入れます。ko no asa i sara ni wa shō ryō no sō su o i re ma su

I put a small amount of sauce in this shallow dish.

Core concept

Indicates that something has little depth, either in physical space or in the substance of knowledge, thought, or experience.

Common phrases

  • 浅い皿asa i sara

    shallow dish

Definition in Japanese

表面から底までの距離が短く、深くないさま。転じて、知識や考えなどの内容に深みがないさま。hyō men ka ra soko ma de no kyo ri ga mijika ku fuka ku na i sa ma ten ji te chi shiki ya kanga e na do no nai yō ni fuka mi ga na i sa ma

Word origin

The native adjective 浅い (asai) preserves the meaning of classical 浅し (asashi), while its form reflects the change from classical Japanese adjective endings to modern Japanese.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 浅い (asai) in the expression 浅い眠り (asai nemuri) for light sleep, so the word can describe a lack of depth beyond physical space.

Other meanings

  • superficiali-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 浅さasasashallownessnoun

Word lists with this word