Translation guide
The English word "short" covers several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down by practical use: describing physical length/height, time duration, insufficient quantity, and personality traits. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
Describing something as not long or not tall (objects, people, distances).
Used for length (strings, hair, skirts, time). Not for height of people.
This skirt is too short.
Please cut my hair short.
Used for height of people, buildings, mountains, or anything with a vertical dimension. Also means low (sound, status).
He is short.
This table is too short (low).
Means small in general. Can imply short when referring to stature, but is less precise than 背が低い.
That kid is the shortest in the class.
Literally 'a sun short'. Used for clothing that is slightly too short, like sleeves or pants. Somewhat old-fashioned.
These pants are a bit short.
Describing a brief period of time.
The standard word for short time. Works for meetings, breaks, lives, etc.
Let's take a short break.
Means 'short period'. Often used in formal or business contexts.
Idiom meaning 'in the blink of an eye'. Emphasizes how quickly time passed.
Not enough of something (money, people, time).
The most common way to say 'not enough' or 'short of'. Used for money, time, people, etc.
Noun/suru-verb meaning shortage or deficiency. More formal than 足りない.
Pattern for 'to be short on ~'. Used in formal writing.
I am short on experience.
Easily angered; impatient.
Na-adjective meaning short-tempered. Very common.
He has a short temper.
Literally 'one's spirit is short'. Same meaning as 短気 but more colloquial.
Proverb: 'A short temper leads to loss.' Used as a saying.
They say a short temper leads to loss, so calm down.
Speaking in a brief, sometimes rude way.
Electrical short circuit.
Saying 彼は短い (kare wa mijikai) is incorrect. Use 背が低い (se ga hikui) or 小さい (chiisai).
短い is for horizontal or temporal length (strings, time). 低い is for vertical height (people, ceilings, sounds).
His life was short.
It's difficult to master Japanese in a short period.
The vacation was over in a flash (felt short).
We are short of funds.
My father is short-tempered.
He has a short (blunt) way of speaking.
短絡が原因で火災が発生した。
A short circuit caused the fire.