Translation guide
The English word "short" covers several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down by practical use: describing physical length/height, time duration, insufficient quantity, and personality traits. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
Describing something as not long or not tall (objects, people, distances).
Used for length (strings, hair, skirts, time). Not for height of people.
このスカートは短すぎます。
This skirt is too short.
髪を短く切ってください。
Please cut my hair short.
Used for height of people, buildings, mountains, or anything with a vertical dimension. Also means low (sound, status).
彼は背が低いです。
He is short.
このテーブルは低すぎる。
This table is too short (low).
Means small in general. Can imply short when referring to stature, but is less precise than 背が低い.
あの子はクラスで一番小さい。
That kid is the shortest in the class.
Literally 'a sun short'. Used for clothing that is slightly too short, like sleeves or pants. Somewhat old-fashioned.
このズボンは寸足らずだ。
These pants are a bit short.
Describing a brief period of time.
The standard word for short time. Works for meetings, breaks, lives, etc.
短い休憩を取りましょう。
Let's take a short break.
彼の人生は短かった。
His life was short.
Means 'short period'. Often used in formal or business contexts.
Not enough of something (money, people, time).
The most common way to say 'not enough' or 'short of'. Used for money, time, people, etc.
Noun/suru-verb meaning shortage or deficiency. More formal than 足りない.
Pattern for 'to be short on ~'. Used in formal writing.
経験に不足している。
I am short on experience.
Easily angered; impatient.
Na-adjective meaning short-tempered. Very common.
彼は短気だ。
He has a short temper.
Literally 'one's spirit is short'. Same meaning as 短気 but more colloquial.
Proverb: 'A short temper leads to loss.' Used as a saying.
短気は損気というから、落ち着いて。
They say a short temper leads to loss, so calm down.
Speaking in a brief, sometimes rude way.
Means cold, curt, or short in manner. Describes a reply or attitude.
彼の返事はそっけなかった。
His reply was short (curt).
Electrical short circuit.
Loanword from English 'short'. Used as a noun or suru-verb.
ショートして停電した。
It short-circuited and the power went out.
Technical term for short circuit. Also used metaphorically for jumping to conclusions.
Saying 彼は短い (kare wa mijikai) is incorrect. Use 背が低い (se ga hikui) or 小さい (chiisai).
短い is for horizontal or temporal length (strings, time). 低い is for vertical height (people, ceilings, sounds).
短期間で日本語を習得するのは難しい。
It's difficult to master Japanese in a short period.
Idiom meaning 'in the blink of an eye'. Emphasizes how quickly time passed.
休みはあっという間だった。
The vacation was over in a flash (felt short).
We are short of funds.
My father is short-tempered.
Na-adjective meaning blunt, curt, short-spoken. Often used for a person's manner.
彼はぶっきらぼうな言い方をする。
He has a short (blunt) way of speaking.
短絡が原因で火災が発生した。
A short circuit caused the fire.