細い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 細い | 細くない |
| Polite | 細いです | 細くないですalso 細くありません |
| Past polite | 細かったです | 細くなかったですalso 細くありませんでした |
| Past | 細かった | 細くなかった |
| Te-form | 細くて | 細くなくて |
| Adverbial | 細く | |
| Conditional | 細ければ | 細くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 細かったら | 細くなかったら |
Describes something physically narrow in diameter or width, such as a thread, stick, arm, or line.
Her arms are very slender.
I sewed the button on with thin thread.
Billiards slang for a narrow or unlucky miss. Not used in general conversation.
That shot was unlucky (barely missed).
Her arms are thin, so she looks like she has little strength.
A thin voice came from the other end of the phone.
His eyes are narrow, and when he smiles they almost disappear.
細い means 'thin/slender' (shape), while 細かい means 'fine/small/detailed' — easy to confuse because they share the kanji 細 and a similar sound.
細い just means 'thin/slender' without implying notable length, whereas 細長い specifically describes something that is both long and narrow.
細い is the adjective meaning 'thin/narrow', while 細る is the verb meaning 'to become thin/narrow', and learners often mix up their conjugation patterns.
lonely; helpless; forlorn; discouraging
dwindling; declining; diminishing · tapering to a point; narrowing
superfine; extra-fine; extremely thin · extra-fine woollen yarn
narrow path; narrow lane
thin strips; julienne
get thin; become slender; taper off
thin; skinny; slender · delicate; fragile; feeble
thinnish; somewhat narrow
fine thread; hempen cord · slender; narrow; weak · narrowness
medium-fine; medium pointed
narrow in the middle; something narrow in the middle · mallet
tapering toward the end; narrowing at the tip
narrow-mouthed; having a small opening · topmouth gudgeon; Pseudorasbora parva · barracuda
frugal customer; poor spender
narrow obi; narrow kimono sash
twig; thin branch; wand
thin-necked shamisen