JLPT N3EverydayNeutral

めon the … side (after an adjective)

め goes on an い-adjective of size, amount or degree and makes it "on the … side", measured against what is usual. 高たかめ is "on the high side", 早はやめに "a little early".

に + verb

少すこし早はやめに会かい場じょうへ行いきませんか。

Why don't we go to the venue a little early?

の + noun

旅りょ行こうに行いくので、大おおきめのかばんを買かった。

I'm going on a trip, so I bought a bag on the big side.

で, when ordering

ご飯はんは少すくなめでお願ねがいします。

A smaller portion of rice for me, please.

How to form it

い-adjective without い + め

高たかい → 高たかめ, 少すくない → 少すくなめ. 濃こい keeps its い: 濃こいめ. The new word works like a noun: 大おおきめだ, 大おおきめのかばん, 早はやめに出でる.

Often with: 少すこし or ちょっと.
Tone: Neutral. 大おおきめ is a size you might ask for.
Where you'll meet it: Everywhere: ordering food, buying clothes, recipes and instructions, weather forecasts, prices.

The words you will hear

早はやめa little early, ahead of time

車くるまで行いくなら、早はやめに駐ちゅう車しゃ場じょうを予よ約やくしたほうがいいですよ。

If you are going by car, you should reserve parking early.

On food and notices, お早はやめに, "soon".

多おおめa little extra

水みずは少すこし多おおめに入いれてください。

Put in a little extra water, please.

少すくなめa little less

砂さ糖とうは少すくなめにしています。

I go easy on the sugar.

大おおきめon the big side

子こどもの服ふくは、少すこし大おおきめのサイズを買かう。

For children's clothes, I buy a slightly bigger size.

Opposite: 小ちいさめ.

高たかめon the high side; on the expensive side

このかばんは少すこし高たかめだ。

This bag is a little on the expensive side.

Of a temperature, "on the high side". Opposites: 低ひくめ, and of a price 安やすめ.

長ながめon the long side

今年ことしは夏なつ休やすみを少すこし長ながめに取とるつもりだ。

This year I plan to take a slightly longer summer vacation.

Opposite: 短みじかめ.

濃こいめon the strong side; on the dark side

コーヒーは濃こいめが好すきです。

I like my coffee on the strong side.

Of a taste or a color. Opposite: 薄うすめ.

早はやめに or 早はやく?

明日あしたは早はやく来きてください。

Please come early tomorrow.

Early, or quickly.

明日あしたは早はやめに来きてください。

Please come a little early tomorrow.

A little ahead of time, to be safe. Softer in a request.

め or っぽい?

English "-ish" is め on a size, amount or price: biggish, longish. っぽい is for how a thing looks or feels, often a criticism.

このホテルは少すこし安やすめだ。

This hotel is a little on the cheap side.

The price, and nothing more.

このホテルは少すこし安やすっぽい。

This hotel looks a little cheap.

A criticism: it has a cheap look.

Close neighbours

気ぎ味みN3

After a noun or a verb stem, never an adjective: a touch of something, mostly unwelcome. 疲つかれ気ぎ味み, "a little tired".

風邪かぜ気ぎ味みのときは、早はやめに休やすんだほうがいい。

When you feel a cold coming on, it's best to rest early.

っぽいN3

Casual. Few adjectives take it, mostly colors: 黒くろっぽい, "blackish".

彼かれは黒くろっぽい上うわ着ぎを着きていた。

He was wearing a dark jacket.

すぎるN5

"Too": more than is good. め makes no complaint.

このシャツは私わたしには大おおきすぎる。

This shirt is too big for me.

目めN5

Another 目め, after a counter: "the second".

二ふたつ目めの角かどを右みぎに曲まがってください。

Turn right at the second corner, please.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

このスープは味あじが少すこし（　　）だ。

Choose an answer to see why.

2What is the plan?

明日あしたは少すこし早はやめに家いえを出でよう。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

め is also written 目: 早はや目めに, 大おおき目め.

One common word is built on a verb, 控ひかえる, "to hold back": 控ひかえめ, "moderate". On food labels, 甘あまさ控ひかえめ is "not too sweet".

塩しおは控ひかえめにしたほうがいい。

It's better to go easy on the salt.

More sentences

お早はやめにお召めし上あがりください。

Please eat it soon.

今こん週しゅうは気き温おんが高たかめの日ひが続つづくでしょう。

Temperatures will stay on the high side this week.

もう少すこし小ちいさめのサイズはありますか。

Do you have a slightly smaller size?

エアコンをちょっと強つよめにしてもいいですか。

Do you mind if I turn the air conditioning up a little?

困こまったときは、一人ひとりで抱かかえ込こまず、早はやめに相そう談だんすることだ。

When you are in trouble, the thing to do is ask for advice early and not carry it all alone.