Use of adjectives. Difference between chiisai, chiisai no, chiisana ?
Hey there. I was wondering, what's the difference between using these 3 forms? I'm not sure but I think i've seen them all used, at least for that particular adjective.

Would these sentences mean different things, or actually be correct?:

a) chiisai kuruma / 小さい車
b) chiisai no kuruma / 小さいの車
c) chiisana kuruma / 小さなくるま

According to the dictionary, 'chiisai' is a -i adjective... But i've seen it used as chiisana, for example in the rhyme 'chiisana hana'.

d) What about the adjective 'kirei' (奇麗) then? (kirei, kirei no, kirena)

e) as a bonus... what does the construction 'wasurechaitenai' mean?

Many thanks in advance for any help!!

Question

Use of adjectives. Difference between chiisai, chiisai no, chiisana ?
Hey there. I was wondering, what's the difference between using these 3 forms? I'm not sure but I think i've seen them all used, at least for that particular adjective.

Would these sentences mean different things, or actually be correct?:

a) chiisai kuruma  / 小さい車
b) chiisai no kuruma / 小さいの車
c) chiisana kuruma / 小さなくるま

According to the dictionary, 'chiisai' is a -i adjective... But i've seen it used as chiisana, for example in the rhyme 'chiisana hana'.

d) What about the adjective 'kirei' (奇麗) then? (kirei, kirei no, kirena)

e) as a bonus... what does the construction 'wasurechaitenai' mean?

Many thanks in advance for any help!!

Answer

1) 小さい vs 小さな
Among your examples, [b)chiisai no kuruma] is not correct.
You can use both [a)chiisai kuruma] and [c)chiisana kuruma].
The meanings are almost same. 
There is just a slight difference. 
I feel that chiisai is more objective, and chiisana include some emotional affection.
(Is this something similar to the difference between "el carro pequeña" and "el pequeña carro"?)

2) Kirei(きれい)
This is not an -i adjective. "kirei" is a chinese origin word, and it happens to end with 'i'.
"kirei-na" becomes -na adjective, but "kirei" itself is a noun.
So, you can't say 'kirei hana', 'kirei no hana', 'kire na hana'. These are all incorrect.
You should say 'kirei-na hana'.

3) 'wasurechaitenai' may be 'wasurechattenai?'.
'wasure'+'chatte(te-simatte)'+'nai?'  (Have you all forgotten, haven't you?)