Translation guide
The English word "little" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: small size, a small amount, a short time, and as a term of endearment. It also includes the quantifier use (a little vs. little) and adverbial use.
Describing something as physically small or compact.
The most common and general word for 'small' or 'little'. Can be used for objects, people, animals, etc.
あの犬は小さいですね。
That dog is little, isn't it?
小さい箱をください。
Please give me a little box.
Pre-noun adjectival form of 小さい, often used in written or slightly more literary contexts. It directly modifies a noun.
小さな町に住んでいます。
I live in a little town.
Means 'small' in the sense of fine, detailed, or minute. Used for things like print, particles, or details.
こまかい字は読みにくい。
Little letters are hard to read.
Expressing a small quantity of something, like water, time, money, etc. Distinguish between 'a little' (some) and 'little' (not much).
The most common way to say 'a little' or 'a small amount of'. 少し (すこし) means 'a little'. Add の before a noun.
少しの水をください。
Please give me a little water.
少しのお金があれば十分です。
A little money is enough.
More casual than 少し. Often used in spoken Japanese.
ちょっとの間待ってください。
Please wait for a little while.
To express 'little' in the negative sense (almost none), use ほとんど + negative verb/adjective. This corresponds to 'little' without 'a'.
水がほとんどない。
There is little water.
お金がほとんど残っていない。
Little money remains.
Also means 'not much' or 'little', but slightly less emphatic than ほとんど～ない. Used with verbs and adjectives.
あまり時間がない。
I have little time.
Referring to a brief period or a short distance.
Literally 'a little interval', used for a short time.
少しの間ここにいてください。
Please stay here for a little while.
Casual version of 少しの間.
ちょっとの間だけ貸して。
Lend it to me for just a little while.
Means 'a little while ago' or 'a short distance ahead'.
少し前に着きました。
I arrived a little while ago.
Modifying verbs or adjectives to mean 'slightly' or 'a bit'.
The standard adverb meaning 'a little' or 'slightly'.
少し疲れました。
I'm a little tired.
もう少し大きいサイズはありますか？
Do you have a little bigger size?
Casual adverb, very common in speech.
Formal adverb, often used in business or polite requests.
Using 'little' affectionately to refer to someone or something small and cute.
Japanese often uses the suffix ～ちゃん for children, pets, or cute things, or simply uses the person's name without 'little'. There is no direct translation; context and tone convey affection.
Using 小さな before a noun can convey affection, similar to 'little' in English.
小さな妹
my little sister
Emphasizing a lack of something, often with a negative connotation.
As above, this is the primary way to express 'little' meaning 'almost none'.
希望がほとんどない。
There is little hope.
Used for frequency: 'little' as in 'rarely'. めったに + negative verb.
彼はめったに笑わない。
He little smiles. (He rarely smiles.)
Both mean 'a little', but ちょっと is more casual and often used in spoken Japanese. 少し is neutral and can be used in both speech and writing. In formal situations, 少々 (しょうしょう) is preferred.
Do not directly translate 'a little' with 小さい (which means 'small in size'). Use 少し or ちょっと for adverbial 'a little'.
For countable nouns (e.g., 'a few books'), use 少しの + noun or 少数の (しょうすうの) for 'a small number of'. Avoid using 'little' directly for countable items in English; in Japanese, 少し can sometimes be used for both, but 少数 is more precise.
彼女は少し疲れています。
She is a little tired.
なんてかわいい小さい犬なんだ！
What a cute little dog!
Wait a little.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a little moment.