小(ちい)さめ

Formed by adding the suffix ～め to the adjective stem 小(ちい)さ. The ～め suffix indicates "somewhat" or "leaning toward" a quality, softening the adjective. This is a productive pattern in Japanese that works with many adjectives.

Usage

• Modifies nouns with の: 小(ちい)さめの + noun
• Can also be used adverbially with に: 小(ちい)さめに切(き)る (to cut somewhat small)
• Very common in shopping, cooking, and describing physical dimensions
• The ～め pattern works with other adjectives too: 大(おお)きめ (on the large side), 長(なが)め (on the long side), 早(はや)め (on the early side)

Common collocations

• 小(ちい)さめのサイズ: a smaller size
• 小(ちい)さめに切(き)る: to cut rather small
• 小(ちい)さめの部屋(へや): a smallish room
• 少(すこ)し小(ちい)さめ: a little on the small side

Similar words

• 小(ちい)さい: small — the base adjective; states the size directly without hedging
• やや小(ちい)さい: slightly small — similar meaning expressed with an adverb
• 大(おお)きめ: on the large side — the opposite pattern using 大(おお)きい
• コンパクトな: compact — loanword; implies small but well-designed