Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Thin" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "thin", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
細い
ほそい (hosoi)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
薄い
うすい (usui)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "thin" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 細い and 薄い.
In Japanese, 細い (ほそい (hosoi)) is typically associated with "thin, slender, narrow" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used to describe the thinness or narrowness of objects.
On the other hand, 薄い (うすい (usui)) maps to "thin; pale; light (color / taste); weak (probability / connection)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to physical thinness. A literal translation of "thin" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "細い"
彼女は指が細くてきれいです。
She has beautiful, slender fingers.
Bilingual Context for "薄い"
この最新型のスマートフォンの頑丈なケースは驚くほど_______、ポケットに入れても全くかさばりません。
Sturdy case of this latest smartphone is surprisingly thin, and even if put in the pocket, it does not get bulky at all.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼女は指が細くてきれいです。" (Meaning: "She has beautiful, slender fingers.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "細い" fits here because it means "thin, slender, narrow" in the context of: "She has beautiful, slender fingers.". "薄い" represents "thin; pale; light (color / taste); weak (probability / connection)".