些細

• Reading: ささい
• Romaji: sasai
• Kanji breakdown: 些 (sa) — a little, slight; 細 (sai) — fine, thin, small
• Pronunciation: /sa.sa.i/

Meaning

Trivial; trifling; slight; minor. Describes something of little importance or consequence.

A na-adjective used as 些細な before nouns. It often carries a dismissive or minimising nuance, used when speakers downplay an issue — either genuinely (a small oversight) or ironically (when something trivial escalates unexpectedly). The phrase 些細なことにこだわる (to fixate on trifles) is a common expression.

Examples

1. 些細な誤解がもとで、長年の友情に亀裂が入った。 A trivial misunderstanding was enough to crack a friendship that had lasted for years.
2. 彼女は些細なことにこだわる性格で、周囲の人たちをときに疲れさせていた。 Her tendency to fixate on trivial matters sometimes wore out the people around her.
3. 些細なミスでも決して見逃さない職人気質が、彼の強みであり個性でもあった。 The craftsman's spirit of never overlooking even a minor mistake was both his strength and his defining character.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, relationships, workplace

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 些 means a little or slight, 細 means fine or thin. Together they reinforce the sense of something so small it barely registers — a trifle unworthy of serious attention.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal