小さい

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 小さい, read ちいさい, joins the small-size stem 小さ with the i-adjective ending い.
• Basic usage: It directly modifies a noun as in 小さい花, or describes a past state as in 箱は小さかった.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Forms and inflection
  • The adverbial form is 小さく and the past form is 小さかった; do not form 小さいかった.