When learning Japanese, you'll often come across situations where you want to express the idea of "a little," "a bit," or "somewhat." The word "ちょっと" probably comes to mind immediately, but did you know there are various other ways to convey the same nuance?
In this lesson, we will explore different words that mean "a little" and learn how to use them appropriately in sentences.
ちょっと
This is the most common and versatile word for "a little" in Japanese. It can be used in casual and semi-formal settings.
ちょっと待ってください。
Please wait a little bit.
Vocabulary
- ちょっと a little; a bit [often used to soften the tone of a request]
- 待って wait [the te-form of 待つ]
- ください please [polite request marker]
We have cute raccoon stickers! One of them says, "ちょっと内気" which means "a little shy."
少々
少々 is another way to say "a little," but it's more formal and often used in business or official contexts.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a little bit.
Vocabulary
- 少々 a little; a bit [often used in formal settings]
- お待ちください please wait [polite request]
いささか
This word is less common but useful to know. "いささか" is often used in written language or formal speech.
いささかの違いはある。
There is a slight difference.
Vocabulary
- いささか a little; a bit [commonly used in formal or written language]
- の [possessive marker]
- 違い difference [noun form of 違う]
- はある there is [a construction to affirm existence]
A Little Suspicious T-Shirt
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As you know from above, 「いささか」 means "a little," "a bit," "somewhat," "slightly," or "rather" and 「うさんくさい」means, "suspicious-looking," "shady," "questionable," "dubious," or "fishy."
If you aren't feeling suspicious, give it to that shady uncle of yours!
Available in:
わずか
"わずか" is another term used to indicate "a little" or "a small amount." It can be used in various contexts.
わずかな時間で完成した。
It was completed in just a little time.
Vocabulary
- わずか a little; a small amount [emphasizes the insufficiency of the amount]
- な [na-adjective marker]
- 時間 time
- で [at; in; with]
- 完成した completed [past form of 完成する]
少々
少々 is another way to say "a little," but it's more formal and often used in business or official contexts.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a little bit.
Vocabulary
- 少々 a little; a bit [often used in formal settings]
- お待ちください please wait [polite request]
いささか
This word is less common but useful to know. "いささか" is often used in written language or formal speech.
いささかの違いはある。
There is a slight difference.
Vocabulary
- いささか a little; a bit [commonly used in formal or written language]
- の [possessive marker]
- 違い difference [noun form of 違う]
- はある there is [a construction to affirm existence]
ほんの
"ほんの" is used to emphasize that the amount or degree is very small.
ほんの一瞬でした。
It was just a moment.
Vocabulary
- ほんの just a little; merely [emphasizes the smallness]
- 一瞬 a moment; an instant
少し
"少し" is another common word that is less casual than "ちょっと" but more so than "少々."
少し待って。
Wait a bit.
Vocabulary
- 少し a little; a bit
- 待って wait [the te-form of 待つ]
ちょい
"ちょい" is casual slang, often used among younger people.
ちょい待って。
Wait a sec.
Vocabulary
- ちょい a bit; a sec [slang; casual]
- 待って wait [the te-form of 待つ]
微々たる
This is a formal or literary term often used to describe a very small or insignificant amount.
微々たる違い。
A very slight difference.
Vocabulary
- 微々たる minuscule; tiny [formal or literary]
- 違い difference
Knowing these words can enrich your vocabulary and help you express nuances when you need to say "a little" or "a bit" in various contexts.
Tips for Usage
- Context Matters: The term you choose should align with the formality of the situation.
- Quantity vs. Quality: While "ちょっと" can be used for both quantity and quality, "少々" is often used for quantity, and "いささか" is often used to describe quality or characteristics.
