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.
少し寒いです。
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.
今日は少し寒い。
It's slightly cold today.
少し待ってください。
Please wait a little.
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'.
今日はやや気温が低い。
The temperature is slightly low today.
Literary or formal word meaning 'somewhat' or 'to some extent'. Not common in daily speech.
状況は幾分改善した。
The situation has improved slightly.
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.
この部屋はあの部屋より少し広い。
This room is slightly bigger than that one.
今日は昨日より少し暑い。
Today is slightly hotter than yesterday.
Casual version of the above. Use ちょっと instead of 少し.
こっちの方がちょっと安いよ。
This one is slightly cheaper.
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.
あまり美味しくない。
It's not very tasty. (slightly not tasty)
あまり分からない。
I don't really understand. (slightly don't understand)
Similar to あまり, but often used in conversation. Means 'not that much'.
そんなに高くないよ。
It's not that expensive. (slightly expensive)
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'.
少しの違いで結果が変わる。
A slight difference can change the result.
少しの熱がある。
I have a slight fever.
Means 'slight' or 'tiny' amount. Often used for quantities or changes. More formal than 少しの.
わずかな差で負けた。
We lost by a slight margin.
When 'slight' means 'mild' (e.g., slight cold, slight injury), use 軽い (light/mild).
軽い風邪をひいた。
I caught a slight cold.
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.
少しお待ちください。
Please wait a moment. (polite)
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'.
あまり美味しくない。
It's not very good.
価格が少し上がった。
The price increased slightly.
彼女は今日、少し違って見える。
She looks slightly different today.