狭(せま)い

せまい

adjective (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

METAPHORICAL USE:

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

OPPOSITE:
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)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:16 · Revised 2026.3.31 19:54

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