狭い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: Spelling: 狭い. Reading: せまい. Core meaning: narrow; cramped.
• Basic usage: Representative examples: この道は狭いので一列で歩こう / 古い家の台所は思ったより狭かった.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Narrow width and cramped space
  • “Narrow” suits a road with little width, while “cramped” suits an interior with too little usable space. The opposite is 広い, and the natural English choice depends on the type of space.