若い vs 小さい (wakai vs chiisai) :JLPT Grammar
若い子供が公園で遊んでいます。
A small child is playing in the park.
*わかいこどもがこうえんであそんでいます。
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[My correction]
若い子供が公園で遊んでいます。
→小さい子供が公園で遊んでいます。
A small child is playing in the park.
小さい is used to describe someone of a young age whose body is not yet adult-sized.
小さい describes young individuals who haven’t reached adult size, while 若い refers to young adults with adult-sized bodies but are still considered young in mind. 若い is not used for babies, infants, or very young children.
Examples:
結婚(けっこん)するにはまだ若いです。
I am still young enough to get married.
むすこはまだ小さいですよ。
My son is still a small child.
In the JLPT course, each lesson includes homework. Submit your homework, and I’ll provide corrections. I’ll break down Japanese grammar, highlighting mistakes and explaining structures and nuances in a simple way. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need—I’m here to help you understand!