細こまか

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Describes something physically small or finely divided, or a detailed, meticulous approach. Also used for a stingy, petty attitude toward money or details.

この紙かみを細こまかく切きってください。
Please cut this paper into small pieces.
彼かれは細こまかいところまでよく気きがつく。
He notices even the smallest details.
あの人ひとはお金かねに細こまかい。
That person is stingy with money.

See all 13 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉は〈物もの〉に細こまかだsomeone is particular/stingy about something
彼かれはお金かねに細こまかだ。
He's stingy about money.
細こまかな〈物もの〉a fine, small ~ (attributive use)
細こまかな雪ゆきが降ふっている。
Fine snow is falling.
〈事こと〉を細こまかに説せつ明めいするto explain something in detail
先せん生せいは手て順じゅんを細こまかに説せつ明めいした。
The teacher explained the procedure in detail.

Expressions

細こまかいことtrifles; minor details; small things

Kanji

細dainty, get thin, taper

Related words

小ちいさいN5
小さい means 'small' in overall size, while 細か focuses on fineness or the level of detail rather than sheer size.

Opposites

大おおまかN2
大まか means rough or broad-strokes (ignoring small details), the opposite of 細か's focus on fine detail.
粗あらいN2
粗い describes something coarse or roughly textured, the physical opposite of 細か's fine, finely-divided sense.

Word family

細こまかいN4
small; fine; minute · minor; trivial; insignificant · sensitive; attentive to detail · careful with money; frugal; stingy
事こと細こまか
detailed; minute; in great detail
きめ細こまかい
smooth; fine-textured · meticulous; painstaking; detailed
きめ細こまか
smooth; fine-textured · meticulous; painstaking; detailed
細こまかく
minutely; finely; in detail
事こと細こまかに
in detail; minutely; thoroughly

Written forms

細こまかUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and common writing.
こまかUsage11%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the kanji is not needed.

Etymology

Derived from the classical adjective 細し (こまし), meaning 'fine' or 'detailed'. The na-adjective form 細か developed from the stem 細か-.