短い
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Base i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes physical shortness, brief durations, or small lengths.
Theme
Two friends, Ken and User, are shopping for clothes at a department store. Ken is trying on a jacket and asks for User's opinion on the sleeve length.
短い
みじかい
short
Core Language Building BlocksCore Adjectives
Memory Hook
Imagine a short pencil that's too small to write with. You say, 'Too short!' — 『短い』 (mijikai, 'short') sounds like 'me-jee-kai' — think 'me, I can't write with this short thing!'
Cultural Note
In Japan, 『短い』 (mijikai) is often used to describe short objects, time durations, or even short stories. For example, 『短い休憩』 (mijikai kyuukei, 'short break') is common in work or school settings.
Forms
Base: 短いBase i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes physical shortness, brief durations, or small lengths.
Negative: 短くないDrop 『い』 → add 『くない』 (kunai, negative) → 『短くない』 (mijikakunai).
Past: 短かったDrop 『い』 → add 『かった』 (katta, past) → 『短かった』 (mijikakatta).
Adverbial: 短くDrop 『い』 → add 『く』 (ku, adverbial) → 『短く』 (mijikaku).
Comparative: より短いComparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番短いSuperlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective.