narrow

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 狭 has 9 strokes and concerns limited width, space, or range of choice.
• Basic usage: 狭い is read せまい, and 狭める is read せばめる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A narrow state and reducing a range
  • 道は狭い describes a road as narrow.
  • 通路を狭める refers to making a passage narrower.
  • 候補を三つまで狭めて means narrowing the candidates down to three. 狭める applies to a range of choices as well as physical width.