Translation and Meaning of: 短い - mijikai

The Japanese word 「短い」 (mijikai) means "short" or "brief" and is widely used to describe lengths or durations. The pronunciation is "mijikai," and this term is often used in various contexts, from describing physical objects to situations or periods of time. For example, one might use 「短い」 to refer to a short trip or a brief message. Evidently, the application of the term depends on the context, but it retains the essence of the idea of something small in extent or duration.

The etymology of the word 「短い」 is interesting and reveals layers of the Japanese language and its history. Specifically, the kanji 「短」 (tan) means "short," and it is composed of two radicals: 「矢」 (ya), which means "arrow," implying speed or brevity, and 「豆」 (mame), which means "bean," referring to something small or short. These components combine to form the overall idea of "short." The suffix 「い」 (i) transforms the noun into an adjective, characterizing the word to describe qualities or states of being.

The origin of this word dates back to the influences of the Chinese language on Japanese, where many kanji were adopted and incorporated with local meanings and uses. Therefore, 「短い」 not only highlights the Sino-Japanese influence but also exemplifies how the Japanese language has adapted and evolved over the centuries to express concepts of time and space efficiently. The flexibility of kanji and its combinations allows speakers to construct meaning in sentences with clarity and conciseness, reflecting the Japanese culture in its essence of valuing what is direct and precise.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 短い (Mijikai) - Short
• 短ければ (Takereba) - If (for) short
• 短かい (Mijikakai) - Short
• 短っ (Mijik) - Colloquial form of "short"
• 短め (Mijikame) - A bit short
• 短小 (Tansho) - Small and short
• 短気 (Tanki) - Impulsive / Temperamental (literally "short-tempered")
• 短縮 (Tanshuku) - Abbreviation
• 短縮する (Tanshuku suru) - abbreviate
• 短縮される (Tanshuku sareru) - Be abbreviated
• 短縮された (Tanshuku sareta) - Abbreviated
• 短縮されている (Tanshuku sareteiru) - It is being abbreviated
• 短縮されます (Tanshuku saremasu) - It will be abbreviated.
• 短縮しました (Tanshuku shimashita) - Abbreviated
• 短縮している (Tanshuku shiteiru) - It is shortening.
• 短縮しています (Tanshuku shiteimasu) - It's abbreviating (formal)
• 短縮していた (Tanshuku shiteita) - I was abbreviating
• 短縮していました (Tanshuku shiteimashita) - I was abbreviating (formal)
• 短縮すること (Tanshuku suru koto) - The action of abbreviating
• 短縮できる (Tanshuku dekiru) - It can be abbreviated.
• 短縮できます (Tanshuku dekimasu) - It can be abbreviated (formal)
• 短縮できた (Tanshuku dekita) - It can be abbreviated.
• 短縮できている (Tanshuku dekiteiru) - It can be abbreviated.