細かい in 30 Seconds
- Describes small, fine, or detailed things across physical and abstract contexts.
- Commonly used for 'small change' (money) and 'detailed' explanations or rules.
- Can describe a meticulous personality, but sometimes carries a negative 'nitpicky' nuance.
- Distinct from 'chiisai' which refers to overall size; 'komakai' refers to granularity.
The Japanese adjective 細かい (komakai) is a versatile word that primarily describes things that are small in size, fine in texture, or high in detail. While it shares some conceptual ground with chiisai (small), its usage is far more specific to the composition, precision, or granularity of an object or concept. At its core, it suggests that something is composed of many tiny parts or requires a high level of attention to notice every individual element. Whether you are talking about the physical grains of sand on a beach, the intricate carvings on a wooden box, or the meticulous nature of a person's personality, komakai is the essential term to use.
- Physical Granularity
- Used for physical objects that are fine or powdery. For example, 'komakai suna' (fine sand) or 'komakai ame' (fine drizzle/misty rain). It implies that the individual units are so small they form a continuous texture.
- Detailed Information
- Used when discussing information, instructions, or plans that are thorough and leave nothing out. A 'komakai setsumei' is an explanation that covers every tiny point, often used in professional or academic settings.
- Financial Context
- Specifically refers to 'small change' or low-denomination coins. 'Komakai okane' is what you need when a vending machine doesn't take large bills.
「この地図はとても細かいところまで描かれています。」 (This map is drawn down to the very fine details.)
「彼は性格が細かいので、ミスを見逃しません。」 (He has a meticulous personality, so he doesn't overlook mistakes.)
In essence, komakai represents the 'micro' view of the world. It invites the listener to look closer, past the surface, and into the constituent parts that make up the whole. It is the opposite of 'おおまか' (oomaka), which means broad or rough.
As an i-adjective, 細かい follows standard Japanese conjugation patterns. Understanding how to transform it allows you to describe nouns, modify verbs, and express past states with precision. The most common use is directly before a noun: komakai bubun (detailed parts).
- Attributive (Modifying Nouns)
- [Adjective] + [Noun] → 細かい規則 (Detailed rules)
- Adverbial (Modifying Verbs)
- [Stem] + く + [Verb] → 細かく切る (To cut finely/into small pieces)
- Negative Form
- [Stem] + くない → 細かくない (Not detailed/not fine)
「野菜を細かく刻んでください。」 (Please chop the vegetables finely.)
In professional settings, you will often see it paired with 'shousai' (details) or 'setsumei' (explanation). In these cases, it emphasizes the thoroughness of the work. If you are asking someone to break a large bill into smaller coins, you would say 'komakaku shite kudasai' (Please make this into small change).
「一万円札を細かくしてもらえますか？」 (Could you break this 10,000 yen bill into smaller change?)
You will encounter 細かい in a wide variety of daily scenarios in Japan, ranging from the supermarket to the corporate boardroom. It is one of those high-frequency words that bridges the gap between physical description and abstract evaluation.
- At the Convenience Store (Konbini)
- Cashiers might ask if you have 'komakai okane' (small change) to avoid giving you a heavy handful of coins back. Alternatively, you might ask them to break a large bill.
- In the Kitchen
- Recipes are filled with instructions like 'komakaku kizumu' (mince finely) or 'komakai furui' (fine sieve). It is essential for achieving the right texture in Japanese cuisine.
- In the Office
- Managers might criticize a report for not being 'komakai' enough, meaning it lacks necessary data or specific details. Conversely, a coworker might be called 'komakai' if they are too focused on minor formatting errors.
「部長はチェックが細かいから、気をつけて。」 (The manager is meticulous/strict about details with his checks, so be careful.)
Weather reports also use it frequently to describe 'komakai ame' (mist) or 'komakai yuki' (fine snow), helping listeners visualize the exact type of precipitation expected.
The most frequent mistake learners make is confusing 細かい (komakai) with 小さい (chiisai). While both translate to 'small' in English, their usage is distinct and rarely interchangeable.
- Chiisai vs. Komakai
- Use Chiisai for the overall physical dimensions or volume of an object (a small car, a small house). Use Komakai for the internal detail, the thinness of a line, or the granularity of a substance.
- Negative Connotations
- Be careful when describing people. If you say 'Ano hito wa komakai,' it often implies they are annoying or fussy about things that don't matter. If you want to praise their attention to detail, use 'Kichinto shite iru' or 'Kiwamete teinei'.
❌ 「小さいお金がありますか？」 (Do you have small money? - Incorrect)
✅ 「細かいお金がありますか？」 (Do you have small change? - Correct)
Another mistake is using 'komakai' when you mean 'kuwashii' (knowledgeable/detailed). While a 'komakai setsumei' (detailed explanation) is fine, you cannot say 'Watashi wa kono koto ni komakai' to mean 'I know a lot about this.' You must use 'kuwashii' for expertise.
To truly master 細かい, you must understand how it sits within a cluster of related terms. Each has a specific nuance that differentiates it from the others.
- 詳しい (Kuwashii)
- Focuses on the depth of knowledge or the comprehensiveness of information. If an explanation is 'kuwashii', it is informative. If it is 'komakai', it is granular and specific.
- 詳細な (Shousai-na)
- A more formal, often written version of 'komakai' or 'kuwashii'. You will see this in technical manuals or legal documents ('shousai na deeta' - detailed data).
- 微細な (Bisai-na)
- A scientific or technical term meaning 'microscopic' or 'extremely minute'. Used for bacteria, dust particles, or subtle chemical changes.
- 厳格な (Genkaku-na)
- Means 'strict'. While 'komakai' can imply strictness regarding rules, 'genkaku' is the direct word for a person or system that is rigid and disciplined.
「詳細については、ウェブサイトをご覧ください。」 (For details, please see the website.)
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
i-adjective conjugation
Adverbial 'ku' form
Te-form for reasons
Noun modification
Degree adverbs (motto, sugiru)
Examples by Level
細かいお金がありますか。
Do you have small change?
Modifying the noun 'okane'.
細かい砂です。
It is fine sand.
Simple adjective-noun structure.
これは細かいです。
This is fine/small.
Predicative use.
細かいお金がないです。
I don't have small change.
Negative existence.
細かい雨が降っています。
Fine rain is falling.
Describing weather.
細かいお菓子ですね。
These are small candies, aren't they?
Sentence ending particle 'ne'.
細かい字を読みます。
I read small characters.
Direct object.
細かい石を拾いました。
I picked up small stones.
Past tense verb.
野菜を細かく切ってください。
Please cut the vegetables finely.
Adverbial form 'komakaku'.
もっと細かいペンが欲しいです。
I want a finer pen.
Comparative 'motto'.
細かいルールが多いです。
There are many detailed rules.
Describing a system.
字が細かくて読めません。
The text is so small I can't read it.
Te-form for reason.
細かいところまで掃除しました。
I cleaned down to the small details.
Particle 'made' (up to/down to).
細かいチェックをお願いします。
Please do a detailed check.
Polite request.
細かいことは気にしないでください。
Please don't worry about the small things.
Negative imperative.
細かい模様の着物です。
It is a kimono with a fine pattern.
Describing design.
細かい説明を聞いて安心しました。
I felt relieved after hearing the detailed explanation.
Compound sentence.
彼は細かい性格なので、仕事が丁寧です。
He has a meticulous personality, so his work is thorough.
Describing personality.
細かいスケジュールを立てましょう。
Let's make a detailed schedule.
Volitional form.
細かい違いが分かりますか。
Can you tell the small differences?
Potential verb 'wakarimasu'.
細かいことは後で決めましょう。
Let's decide the small details later.
Contrastive 'wa'.
細かい作業は目が疲れます。
Detailed work tires the eyes.
Subject marker 'wa'.
もっと細かく説明してもらえますか。
Could you explain it in more detail?
Requesting action 'te moraemasu ka'.
細かい点に注意して読んでください。
Please read while paying attention to the fine points.
Compound particle 'ni chuui shite'.
細かい規定に違反していました。
It was in violation of detailed regulations.
Formal context.
彼は細かいことにこだわりすぎる。
He obsesses too much over small things.
Verb 'kodawaru' (to obsess).
細かいデータを分析する必要があります。
It is necessary to analyze detailed data.
Noun + 'ga hitsuyou'.
細かいニュアンスを伝えるのは難しい。
It is difficult to convey subtle nuances.
Nominalized phrase with 'no'.
細かいところまで配慮が行き届いている。
Care/consideration reaches even the smallest details.
Idiomatic expression for hospitality.
予算の細かい内訳を教えてください。
Please tell me the detailed breakdown of the budget.
Business terminology 'uchiwake'.
細かい修正を繰り返して完成させた。
I completed it after repeating minor corrections.
Compound verb 'kurikaeshite'.
細かい事情は分かりませんが、協力します。
I don't know the detailed circumstances, but I will help.
Concessive 'ga'.
その作家は細かい心理描写で知られている。
That author is known for detailed psychological descriptions.
Passive form 'shirarete iru'.
細かい不備が重なって、大きな事故になった。
Small flaws accumulated and led to a major accident.
Causality.
細かい芸が光るパフォーマンスだった。
It was a performance where subtle skills shone through.
Metaphorical use of 'hikaru'.
細かい条件を一つずつクリアしていく。
We will clear the detailed conditions one by one.
Step-by-step process.
細かいことを言うようですが、ここが違います。
I might sound like I'm nitpicking, but this is wrong.
Humble/Softening expression.
細かい粒子が空中に浮遊している。
Fine particles are suspended in the air.
Scientific description.
細かい部分の仕上げが非常に美しい。
The finishing of the fine parts is extremely beautiful.
Artistic evaluation.
細かい点まで議論を尽くした。
We exhausted the discussion down to the finest points.
Verb 'tsukusu' (to exhaust).
細かい差異を峻別することは極めて困難だ。
It is extremely difficult to strictly distinguish fine differences.
Formal/Academic vocabulary 'shunbetsu'.
細かい論理の積み重ねが、この理論を支えている。
An accumulation of detailed logic supports this theory.
Abstract metaphor.
細かい規定の網の目をくぐり抜ける。
To slip through the mesh of detailed regulations.
Idiomatic expression for loopholes.
細かい配慮の欠如が、信頼関係を損なう。
A lack of meticulous consideration damages relationships of trust.
Formal causal relationship.
細かい筆致によって、生命感が吹き込まれている。
Life is breathed into it through fine brushstrokes.
Artistic/Literary passive.
細かい事実関係の調査には、膨大な時間を要する。
Investigating detailed factual relationships requires a vast amount of time.
Formal verb 'yousuru'.
細かいところまで神経を尖らせて作業する。
To work with one's nerves sharpened to the smallest details.
Idiom 'shinkei o togaraseru'.
細かい制度の不備を突いた、巧妙な手口だ。
It is a clever trick that exploited flaws in the detailed system.
Complex sentence structure.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Implies being fussy, pedantic, or stingy.
Implies small particles or fine texture.
Implies precision, care, and thoroughness.
- Using 'chiisai' for small change.
- Using 'komakai' for a person's height.
- Confusing 'komakai' (detailed) with 'hosoi' (thin).
- Using 'komakai' as a na-adjective.
- Using 'komakai' to mean 'knowledgeable' instead of 'kuwashii'.
Tips
Money Matters
Always use 'komakai' when talking about coins or breaking bills. 'Chiisai okane' sounds like tiny physical coins, not low value.
Kitchen Skills
When a recipe says 'komakaku', it usually means minced or finely chopped. Accuracy here changes the dish's texture.
Personality
If you want to praise someone's attention to detail without the negative nuance of 'komakai', use 'kizukai ga dekiru' (considerate).
Adverbial Use
Remember to change the final 'i' to 'ku' when using it with a verb. 'Komakaku kaku' (to write in detail).
Observation
Use 'komakai' for things you need to squint to see clearly, like tiny patterns or small text.
Professionalism
In reports, being 'komakai' is usually good. It shows you haven't missed any data points.
Atmosphere
Use 'komakai' to describe the 'texture' of the air, like dust, mist, or light snow.
Kanji Practice
The kanji 細 is also used in 'saibu' (details). Learning it helps with many related words.
Balance
In Japan, being 'komakai' is a virtue in work but can be a social burden. Use the word carefully.
Zooming In
Think of 'chiisai' as zooming out (size) and 'komakai' as zooming in (detail).
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'COMma' (koma) being a very 'KAI' (small/fine) punctuation mark. You need to be 'komakai' to see it!
Word Origin
Derived from the kanji '細' (thin/slender). Originally referred to physical thinness or smallness, evolving to include abstract granularity and detail.
Cultural Context
Attentiveness to 'komakai' needs of guests is the hallmark of Japanese service.
Japanese artisans are famous for 'komakai' work in lacquerware and textiles.
Avoiding 'komakai' complaints helps maintain 'wa' (harmony).
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"細かいお金、持ってる？ (Do you have any small change?)"
"この説明、ちょっと細かすぎない？ (Isn't this explanation a bit too detailed?)"
"日本料理は作りが細かいですね。 (Japanese food is so intricately made, isn't it?)"
"細かいルールが多くて大変です。 (It's hard because there are so many detailed rules.)"
"もっと細かく教えてくれる？ (Can you tell me in more detail?)"
Journal Prompts
今日、細かい作業をしましたか？ (Did you do any detailed work today?)
あなたは細かい性格ですか？ (Do you have a meticulous personality?)
最近、細かいことで怒ったことはありますか？ (Have you been angry about something small recently?)
細かい雨の中を歩いたことがありますか？ (Have you ever walked in fine rain?)
仕事で細かいチェックが必要なことは何ですか？ (What in your work requires a detailed check?)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, for a short person use 'se ga hikui'. For a small-framed person, you might use 'karada ga chiisai'.
Not always. It can mean they are very careful and professional. However, without context, it often leans toward 'fussy'.
'Komakai' is the common spoken word. 'Shousai' is a formal noun/na-adjective used in writing and business.
Say 'Sen-en satsu o komakaku shite kudasai'.
Yes, in the sense of being strict about following every small rule.
It refers to a very fine drizzle or mist, where you can barely see the individual drops.
Rarely. For a tight schedule, you'd say 'kitsui' or 'tsumatta'. But 'komakai sukejuuru' means a schedule with many small entries.
The most direct opposite is 'oomaka' (broad/rough) or 'arai' (coarse).
Yes, 'komakai ji' means small, often cramped handwriting.
It is an i-adjective.
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Summary
Mastering 'komakai' allows you to express precision. Whether you're asking for change, chopping onions, or criticizing a detailed report, this word is the key to describing the 'micro' aspects of life in Japan.
- Describes small, fine, or detailed things across physical and abstract contexts.
- Commonly used for 'small change' (money) and 'detailed' explanations or rules.
- Can describe a meticulous personality, but sometimes carries a negative 'nitpicky' nuance.
- Distinct from 'chiisai' which refers to overall size; 'komakai' refers to granularity.
Money Matters
Always use 'komakai' when talking about coins or breaking bills. 'Chiisai okane' sounds like tiny physical coins, not low value.
Kitchen Skills
When a recipe says 'komakaku', it usually means minced or finely chopped. Accuracy here changes the dish's texture.
Personality
If you want to praise someone's attention to detail without the negative nuance of 'komakai', use 'kizukai ga dekiru' (considerate).
Adverbial Use
Remember to change the final 'i' to 'ku' when using it with a verb. 'Komakaku kaku' (to write in detail).
Example
彼は細かいことによく気がつく。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More general words
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
