Translation guide
Describing a person's physique as small, slender, or petite. Japanese offers several nuanced terms depending on whether you emphasize overall smallness, slimness, or delicacy.
Describing someone who is generally small-bodied, not necessarily thin, just physically small.
The most common and neutral way to say someone has a small build. It implies both short height and slight frame.
彼女は小柄な人です。
She is a person of small build.
Emphasizing thinness rather than just smallness. The person may be of average height but slight.
Means 'slim' or 'slender'. Focuses on being thin, often with a positive or neutral connotation.
細身の男性が立っていた。
A slim man was standing there.
Conveying a small, dainty, and often feminine build. Implies fragility or cuteness.
小柄 (kogara) simply means small in stature and frame, without necessarily implying thinness. 華奢 (kyasha) emphasizes delicacy and slenderness, often with a sense of fragility. Use 小柄 for a neutral description, and 華奢 when you want to highlight elegance or daintiness.
The English phrase 'small build' directly translated as 小さい体格 (chiisai taikaku) is understandable but sounds unnatural. Use 小柄 or 細身 instead.
Noun form meaning 'small build' or 'petite'. Often used in descriptions.
小柄の女性
a woman of small build
Literally 'body is small'. A straightforward description, but less natural than 小柄な for build.
彼は体が小さい。
He has a small body.
Literally 'thin type'. A more clinical or descriptive term for a slender build.
彼は痩せ型の体型だ。
He has a slender build.
Describes a slim, delicate figure, often used for women. Has a slightly elegant nuance.
ほっそりした指
slender fingers
可憐な花のような人
a person like a lovely flower