Translation guide
Expressing a small number or quantity in Japanese, from a few items to a handful of people.
The speaker wants to say that there are only a few of something, or a small number of people.
The most direct and neutral word for 'small number', used in both spoken and written Japanese. Often used in formal contexts or statistics.
少数の意見も尊重すべきだ。
We should also respect the opinions of the small number.
参加者は少数だった。
There were only a small number of participants.
Means 'a little' or 'a few'. Very common in everyday conversation. Can be used for both countable and uncountable things.
少しだけ時間があります。
I have only a small amount of time.
少しの人数で始めましょう。
Let's start with a small number of people.
Specifically means 'a few people' (literally 'several people'). Used when the small number refers to persons.
数人の友達が来ました。
A few friends came.
Emphasizes that the number is very small, often with a nuance of 'only' or 'merely'. Can be used with numbers or nouns.
わずか３人しか来なかった。
Only a mere three people came.
わずかな違いだ。
It's a tiny difference.
Casual equivalent of 少し. Very common in informal speech. Can also mean 'a little' in terms of degree.
The speaker wants to specify a small number of specific items using Japanese counter words.
Prefix 数 (すう) before a counter means 'several' or 'a few'. Common counters: 人 (にん) for people, 個 (こ) for small objects, 回 (かい) for times, etc.
数個のリンゴを買った。
I bought a few apples.
数回試した。
I tried a few times.
Means 'some' or 'a few', literally 'what counter + か'. More vague than 数+counter. E.g., 何人か (a few people), 何個か (a few items).
何人か来るでしょう。
A few people will probably come.
The speaker wants to stress that the number is surprisingly small or insufficient.
Means 'only' or 'just', emphasizing a small number. Often used with counters. Casual.
たった一人で来た。
He came all alone (just one person).
たったの100円だ。
It's only 100 yen.
Means 'only' with a negative verb. Emphasizes that there is nothing more than the small number. E.g., 一人しかいない (there is only one person).
小さい数しか残っていない。
Only a small number remain.
In many contexts, Japanese uses counters or adverbs like 少し instead of the noun 'small number'. For example, 'a small number of books' is more naturally 本が少し or 数冊の本 rather than 少数の本, which sounds stiff.
本が少しあります。
There are a few books.
少数 is a neutral noun meaning 'small number'. わずか is an adverb/noun that emphasizes the smallness, often translated as 'only' or 'mere'. Use わずか when you want to highlight how tiny the number is.
少数の学生が反対した。
A small number of students opposed.
わずか３人の学生しか来なかった。
Only three students came.
ごく少数の人だけが真実を知っている。
Only a small number of people know the truth.
ごく adds emphasis: 'very small number'
少しの間違いがありました。
There were a small number of errors.