Translation guide
The English adverb 'thinly' describes doing something in a thin manner, such as slicing, spreading, or being thinly populated. Japanese uses various adverbs and verb forms depending on the context.
To cut or slice something into thin slices or pieces.
The adverbial form of 薄い (thin), used with verbs like 切る (cut) or スライスする (slice). This is the most common way to say 'thinly' in cooking contexts.
肉を薄く切ってください。
Please slice the meat thinly.
Slice the onion thinly.
Means 'finely' or 'into small pieces', often used for chopping or mincing. Can overlap with 'thinly' when the result is small thin pieces.
にんじんを細かく刻む。
Chop the carrot finely.
To spread or apply something (like butter, paint) in a thin layer.
Again the adverbial form of 薄い, used with verbs like 塗る (spread/paint) or 伸ばす (spread out).
パンにバターを薄く塗る。
Spread butter thinly on the bread.
ペンキを薄く塗ってください。
Please apply the paint thinly.
Describing a place with few people or things spread out.
Means 'sparsely' or 'thinly' in the sense of being scattered. Used for population, vegetation, etc.
この地域は人口がまばらに分布している。
This area is thinly populated.
木がまばらに生えている。
Trees are growing thinly/sparsely.
Can also be used in some contexts, but まばらに is more natural for population distribution.
雲が薄く広がっている。
Clouds are spread thinly.
Something (like a disguise, excuse, or threat) that is barely concealed.
An adjective meaning 'transparent' or 'obvious' (literally 'see-through'). Used for thinly veiled lies or excuses.
それは見え透いた嘘だ。
That's a thinly veiled lie.
Means 'thin' or 'flimsy', often used figuratively for shallow or unconvincing things.
彼の言い訳は薄っぺらい。
His excuse is thinly veiled/flimsy.