1.
modest, humble, small, meager
Describes something that is small in scale or humble in nature. Often used as a polite way to downplay the significance of one's own offering or event.
ささやかなプレゼントです。
It's a small gift.
Also written as 細やか or 些やか, though hiragana is most common.
Common patterns
- ささやかなプレゼント: a small/humble gift
- ささやかな幸せ: a small happiness
- ささやかな暮らし: a modest/simple lifestyle
- ささやかながら: though it's modest (humble set phrase)
- ささやかな宴: a modest gathering/party
Nuance: ささやか is frequently used as a humble expression when offering something to others. Saying ささやかなプレゼントです shows modesty — the gift may not actually be small, but the speaker downplays it as a social courtesy. It also has a genuinely descriptive use meaning small-scale or simple, without false modesty.