Japanese word

細い

Pronunciation

Romajihosoi

Meaning

  • i-adjectivethin

Example

この鉛筆は細いです。ko no en pitsu wa hoso i de su

This pencil is thin.

Illustration for 細い (thin)

More examples

このえんぴつは細いです。ko no e n pi tsu wa hoso i de su

This pencil is thin.

この道は細いですから、ゆっくり歩きましょう。ko no michi wa hoso i de su ka ra yu kku ri aru ki ma shō

Since this road is narrow, let's walk slowly.

Core concept

It describes 細い (hosoi) as having little thickness or width, so the thing appears slender or narrow.

Common phrases

  • 細い道hoso i michi

    narrow road

  • 細い糸hoso i ito

    thin thread

  • 細い線hoso i sen

    thin line

Similar words

薄いusui: Having little thickness, especially in a flat object or layer.
狭いsemai: Having little width or space from side to side.

Definition in Japanese

太さが少なく、幅や直径が小さいさま。futo sa ga suku na ku haba ya chok kei ga chii sa i sa ma

Word origin

The native Japanese adjective 細い (hosoi) consists of the stem 細 (hoso, "thin") and the adjective-forming ending い (i).

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 細い (hosoi) describes not only pencils and limbs but also roads and voices, so the noun determines whether it means thin, slender, or narrow.

Other meanings

  • slenderi-adjective
  • narrowi-adjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word