Translation guide
The English adverb 'slightly' is used to indicate a small degree or amount. In Japanese, it is most commonly expressed with adverbs like 少し (sukoshi) or ちょっと (chotto), but the best choice depends on formality, context, and whether you are modifying an adjective, verb, or noun. This guide covers natural ways to express 'slightly' across different situations.
It's slightly cold.
Express that something is a little bit (adjective) or done a little (verb). This is the most common meaning.
The standard, neutral word for 'a little' or 'slightly'. Works in both spoken and written Japanese, and can modify adjectives, verbs, and nouns.
It's slightly cold today.
Very common in casual conversation. Slightly more colloquial than 少し. Often used to soften requests or statements.
Slightly formal, often used in writing or news reports. Means 'somewhat' or 'a little'.
Literary or formal word meaning 'somewhat' or 'to some extent'. Not common in daily speech.
Express a small difference in degree when comparing two things.
Use 少し before the adjective. For 'more', use より + adjective; for 'less', use ほど + negative adjective or より + less adjective.
Express that something is not very much the case, often with a negative verb or adjective.
Used with a negative verb/adjective to mean 'not very' or 'not much'. Implies a slight degree of negation.
It's not very tasty. (slightly not tasty)
Describe a noun as having a small degree of something, like 'a slight difference' or 'a slight fever'.
Use 少しの before a noun to mean 'a little bit of' or 'a slight'.
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 any situation. In formal writing, やや or 幾分 may be preferred.
Please wait a moment. (polite)
The price increased slightly.
Please wait a little.
ちょっと疲れた。
I'm a bit tired.
Let me see for a sec.
The temperature is slightly low today.
状況は幾分改善した。
The situation has improved slightly.
This room is slightly bigger than that one.
Today is slightly hotter than yesterday.
Casual version of the above. Use ちょっと instead of 少し.
This one is slightly cheaper.
I don't really understand. (slightly don't understand)
Similar to あまり, but often used in conversation. Means 'not that much'.
It's not that expensive. (slightly expensive)
A slight difference can change the result.
I have a slight fever.
Means 'slight' or 'tiny' amount. Often used for quantities or changes. More formal than 少しの.
We lost by a slight margin.
When 'slight' means 'mild' (e.g., slight cold, slight injury), use 軽い (light/mild).
I caught a slight cold.
ちょっと待って。
Wait a sec. (casual)
When you want to say 'not very' or 'not really', it's more natural to use あまり〜ない or そんなに〜ない instead of 少し〜ない. Saying 少し美味しくない is possible but less common; it sounds like 'it's a little not tasty' rather than 'it's not very tasty'.
It's not very good.
She looks slightly different today.