A2 Collocation Neutral 1 Min. Lesezeit

小さい声で話す

chiisai koe de hanasu

Speak in a quiet voice

Jetzt üben

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to describe speaking at a low volume, whether due to privacy, politeness, or a quiet environment.

  • Means: To speak in a quiet, hushed, or low-volume voice.
  • Used in: Libraries, hospitals, movie theaters, or when sharing secrets.
  • Don't confuse: {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ} (the noun) with {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す (the action).
🤫 (Quiet gesture) + 🗣️ (Speaking) = {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す

Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:

This phrase means to speak quietly. You use it when you are in a place like a library or when you want to keep a secret.
This is a common collocation used to describe the act of lowering one's vocal volume. It is essential for navigating Japanese social etiquette, especially in public spaces where noise control is expected.
The phrase {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す is a functional collocation denoting the reduction of vocal volume. It is frequently employed in contexts requiring discretion, such as in libraries, hospitals, or during private conversations where privacy is paramount. It reflects the cultural importance of maintaining a harmonious public environment.
Functioning as a standard collocation, {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す serves as an essential tool for expressing behavioral expectations in Japanese society. It transcends simple volume control, often acting as a marker of social awareness and adherence to the cultural imperative of minimizing public disturbance. Mastery of this phrase allows learners to navigate social interactions with greater sensitivity to the surrounding environment.
The collocation {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す is a quintessential example of how Japanese linguistic structures mirror social values. By utilizing the particle 'de' to denote the manner of action, the phrase explicitly links the physical act of vocal modulation to the social context. It is not merely descriptive; it is a normative expression used to enforce or request adherence to public etiquette, highlighting the cultural prioritization of collective harmony over individual expression in shared spaces.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す exemplifies the intersection of pragmatics and phonology in Japanese. The phrase functions as a performative utterance in social contexts, where the speaker's choice to modulate volume serves as a non-verbal cue of social alignment. Its usage is deeply embedded in the 'uchi-soto' (inside-outside) dynamic, where the regulation of voice is a mechanism for maintaining the boundaries of the 'uchi' (in-group) or ensuring the comfort of the 'soto' (public).

Bedeutung

To talk at a low volume, softly.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Public silence is a sign of respect for others.

💡

Particle usage

Always use 'de' to describe the manner of speaking.

💡

Particle usage

Always use 'de' to describe the manner of speaking.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct particle.

{図書館|としょかん}では{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ} ___ {話|はな}してください。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: で

The particle 'de' indicates the manner in which the action is performed.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Aufgabensammlung

2 Aufgaben
Wähle die richtige Antwort Fill Blank

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Fill in the blank with the correct particle. Fill Blank A2

{図書館|としょかん}では{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ} ___ {話|はな}してください。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: で

The particle 'de' indicates the manner in which the action is performed.

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

No, use {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{歌|うた}う.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

ひそひそ{話|はな}す

synonym

To whisper

Wo du es verwendest

📚

Library

Student A: {すみません、{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}していただけますか？}

formal

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine a tiny mouse (chiisai) holding a microphone (koe) and whispering into it.

Visuelle Assoziation

A library with a 'Shhh' sign, and you are whispering to a friend.

Rhyme

Speak with a voice that is small, so you don't bother them at all.

Story

I walked into the library. I needed to ask for a book. I remembered the rule: speak in a small voice. I leaned over to the librarian and whispered, 'Excuse me.' She smiled.

In Other Languages

Most languages have a direct equivalent like 'speak softly' or 'speak in a low voice'.

Word Web

{声|こえ}{話|はな}す{小|ちい}さい{静|しず}か{マナー|manner}{秘密|ひみつ}

Herausforderung

Spend 5 minutes today only whispering to people you live with.

Review this in 3 days, then 1 week, then 1 month.

Aussprache

Stress Pitch accent on 'chi'.

Standard Japanese pronunciation.

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}してください。

{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}してください。 (Requesting quiet)

Neutral
{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}して。

{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}して。 (Requesting quiet)

Informell
{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}してよ。

{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}してよ。 (Requesting quiet)

Umgangssprache
ひそひそ{話|はな}して。

ひそひそ{話|はな}して。 (Requesting quiet)

The phrase is a standard collocation of 'chiisai' (small) and 'koe' (voice).

Modern:

Wusstest du?

It is one of the first phrases taught in Japanese etiquette classes.

Kulturelle Hinweise

Public silence is a sign of respect for others.

“{電車|でんしゃ}では{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す。”

Gesprächseinstiege

“

{日本|にほん}の{電車|でんしゃ}で{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}すのはなぜですか？

Häufige Fehler

✗

{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}を{話|はな}す

✓

{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す

wrong preposition
You use the particle 'de' to indicate the manner of speaking, not the direct object particle 'o'.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Hablar en voz baja

Japanese uses the particle 'de' while Spanish uses 'en'.

French Very Similar

Parler à voix basse

French uses 'à' (at) while Japanese uses 'de' (by/with).

German moderate

Leise sprechen

German is more concise, using a single adverb.

Japanese self

{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}す

N/A

Arabic Very Similar

تحدث بصوت منخفض

Arabic uses 'bi' (with) as the preposition.

Chinese Very Similar

小声说话

Chinese does not require a particle like 'de'.

Korean Very Similar

작은 목소리로 말하다

Korean uses the particle '-ro' (with/by) instead of 'de'.

Portuguese Very Similar

Falar em voz baixa

Uses 'em' (in) as the preposition.

Spotted in the Real World

🎬

(2020)

“{小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{話|はな}して。”

Library scene.

Leicht verwechselbar

小さい声で話す vs. {小|ちい}さな{声|こえ}

Learners think it's a verb phrase.

It is a noun phrase, not an action.

Häufig gestellte Fragen (1)

No, use {小|ちい}さい{声|こえ}で{歌|うた}う.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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