細い

• Reading: ほそい
• Romaji: hosoi
• Kanji breakdown: 細 (hoso/sai) — thin, slender, fine, detailed
• Pronunciation: /ho.so.i/

Meaning

Thin; slender; fine. Describes something narrow in width or diameter.

An i-adjective that is the antonym of 太い. Used for thin objects like threads, roads, fingers, and lines. Can also describe a slender physique or a quiet, delicate voice (細い声). Conjugates regularly: 細くない, 細かった, 細くなかった.

Examples

1. 姉の指はとても細いです。 My older sister's fingers are very thin.
2. 細い線で絵を描きました。 I drew a picture with thin lines.
3. この道は細くて車が通れません。 This road is too narrow for cars to pass through.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, descriptions, physical attributes

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 細 combines the thread radical 糸 with 田 (field), originally suggesting something as fine as a thread.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal