ちっちゃな

Japanese

Alternative spelling
小っちゃな

Etymology

Sound shift from 小(ちい)さな (chīsana).

Also analyzable as the adnominal -na alternative form of ちっちゃい (chitchai).

First attested in 1926.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕit̚t͡ɕa̠na̠]

Adnominal

ちっちゃな • (chitchana) 

1. [from 1926] (childish) Alternative form of 小さな (chīsana, “small; little”)

Usage notes

This term may only be used to directly modify a noun. In this grammatical role, it may be used largely interchangeably with ちっちゃい (chitchai), the -i adjective form. In predicative use, only ちっちゃい (chitchai) may be used: あれは*ちっちゃだ (are wa *chiccha da) is incorrect grammar. Also, there is no adverbial form *ちっちゃに (*chiccha ni), only the regular -ku adverbial form ちっちゃく (chitchaku) of the -i adjective ちっちゃい (chitchai).

Synonyms

• ちっちゃい (chitchai)