A1 Expression Neutral

短いです

mijikai desu

It's short

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {短|みじか}いです to describe something that has little length or duration.

  • Means: To be short in physical length or time duration.
  • Used in: Describing hair, pencils, or the duration of a meeting.
  • Don't confuse: Do not use for 'short' people; use {背|せ}が{低|ひく}いです instead.
📏 (Ruler) + ✂️ (Scissors) = {短|みじか}いです

Explanation at your level:

This word means 'short'. You use it for things like pencils or time. It is very easy to use!
Use {短|みじか}いです to describe physical length or time. It is an i-adjective, so it changes form for past tense or negative sentences. Remember, do not use it for people's height.
This adjective is versatile. It describes objects, time, and even personality traits like being short-tempered. Understanding its conjugation as an i-adjective is crucial for intermediate fluency. It contrasts directly with {長|なが}い.
Beyond physical dimensions, {短|みじか}い is used in various idiomatic contexts. It reflects the Japanese preference for conciseness. Mastery involves knowing when to use the adverbial form {短|みじか}く to modify verbs effectively in professional settings.
The term {短|みじか}い functions within a complex semantic field involving temporal and spatial perception. Its usage requires sensitivity to register, especially when describing personal attributes, where it can carry nuanced social implications regarding patience or temperament.
Linguistically, {短|みじか}い represents a core scalar adjective. Its application extends to cognitive metaphors where 'shortness' maps onto 'lack of duration' or 'impatience'. Mastery at this level involves navigating the subtle boundary between objective measurement and subjective evaluation in high-context Japanese discourse.

Bedeutung

To describe something as having little length.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Efficiency is praised. A 'short' meeting is often seen as a good meeting. Don't call people 'short' directly as it can be rude.

💡

Check your context

Always ask: is it height or length?

Bedeutung

To describe something as having little length.

💡

Check your context

Always ask: is it height or length?

Teste dich selbst

Choose the correct word for height.

彼は背が____です。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 低い

Use 低い for human height.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

Yes, absolutely.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

{長|なが}い

contrast

Long

Wo du es verwendest

✂️

At a barber shop

Barber: How short should I cut it?

Customer: {短|みじか}くしてください。

neutral
⏱️

Reviewing a meeting

Boss: Was the meeting okay?

Employee: {会議|かいぎ}は{短|みじか}くて{良|よ}かったです。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'short' pencil that you can't hold anymore—it's 'Mijikai'!

Visual Association

Imagine a very short giraffe trying to reach a tall tree. It's too short!

Rhyme

It's not long, it's not high, it's just Mijikai.

Story

Kenji bought a pencil. It was long. He used it for a week. Now it is very short. He says, 'Kono enpitsu wa mijikai desu.'

Word Web

{長|なが}い{低|ひく}い{時間|じかん}{髪|かみ}{鉛筆|えんぴつ}{短|みじか}さ

Herausforderung

Find 3 things in your room that are 'mijikai' and say it out loud.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Corto

Spanish uses 'bajo' for people, just like Japanese uses 'hikui'.

French high

Court

French has gender agreement, Japanese does not.

German high

Kurz

German has more complex case endings.

Japanese n/a

{短|みじか}い

Strict distinction between height and length.

Arabic moderate

قصير (Qasir)

Arabic uses the same word for height, unlike Japanese.

Easily Confused

短いです vs. {低|ひく}い

Both mean 'small' in some sense.

Use {低|ひく}い for height, {短|みじか}い for length.

FAQ (1)

Yes, absolutely.

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