狭(せま)い

せまい

i-adjective

narrow, cramped

Conjugation

	Affirmative	Negative
Present	狭(せま)い	狭(せま)くない
Past	狭(せま)かった	狭(せま)くなかった
て form	狭(せま)くて	狭(せま)くなくて
Adverbial	狭(せま)く	—
Conditional ば	狭(せま)ければ	狭(せま)くなければ
Conditional たら	狭(せま)かったら	狭(せま)くなかったら

1. narrow, cramped, small (space)

Describes something with limited space or area. The opposite of 広(ひろ)い (wide, spacious). Used for rooms, roads, areas, etc.

この部屋(へや)は狭(せま)いです。

This room is small/cramped.

狭(せま)い道(みち)に入(はい)らないでください。

Please don't enter the narrow road.

ここは狭(せま)くて動(うご)けない。

It's so cramped here I can't move.

この部屋(へや)は狭(せま)いですが、一(ひと)人(り)で住(す)むには十分(じゅうぶん)です。

This room is small, but it's enough for living alone.

Japanese apartments are said to be small, but with some ingenuity you can live comfortably. It's important to use storage space well.

狭(せま)い is an i-adjective describing limited space or area.

Forms

Adverbial: 狭(せま)く (narrowly)
Noun form: 狭(せま)さ (narrowness)
Te-form: 狭(せま)くて

Common collocations

部屋(へや)が狭(せま)い: the room is cramped
道(みち)が狭(せま)い: the road is narrow
狭(せま)い場所(ばしょ): tight/cramped space

Usage

視野(しや)が狭(せま)い: narrow-minded (lit. narrow field of vision)
心(こころ)が狭(せま)い: petty, small-minded

Similar words

広(ひろ)い (wide, spacious)

Cultural note

Japanese apartments are often described as 狭(せま)い, reflecting typical urban housing constraints.

Related Words

Antonym: 広(ひろ)い (wide, spacious)

Compare: 狭隘(きょうあい) (narrow)

Compare: 手狭(てぜま)になる (to become cramped)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:16 · Revised 2026.10.6 21:38

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