Translation guide
Expressing a very small amount or degree in Japanese. The most common and versatile word is ちょっと, but there are many alternatives depending on formality, nuance, and whether you're talking about quantity, time, or degree.
The speaker wants to express 'a little' or 'a tiny bit' in a general sense, often as an adverb modifying a verb or adjective.
The most common and versatile word for 'a little' or 'a tiny bit'. Can be used in almost any situation, though it's slightly informal. Often used to soften requests or statements.
ちょっと待ってください。
Please wait a tiny bit.
ちょっと疲れた。
I'm a tiny bit tired.
A slightly more formal or neutral alternative to ちょっと. Means 'a little' or 'a small amount'. Can be used in both spoken and written Japanese.
A formal word for 'a little' or 'a tiny bit'. Often used in business settings or polite requests. Not used in casual conversation.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a tiny bit. (formal)
The speaker wants to describe a very small quantity of a noun, like 'a tiny bit of salt'.
Use 少しの before a noun to mean 'a tiny bit of'. This is the standard way to express a small amount of something.
少しの塩を入れてください。
Please add a tiny bit of salt.
少しの時間があればできます。
I can do it if I have a tiny bit of time.
A more casual version of 少しの. Used in everyday conversation.
ちょっとのことで怒らないで。
Don't get angry over a tiny bit of thing.
Means 'a tiny amount' or 'only a little'. Often used to emphasize scarcity or a surprisingly small amount. Can be used as a noun or adverb.
わずかな違いだ。
It's a tiny bit of difference.
The speaker wants to express a very short duration, like 'just a tiny bit' or 'a moment'.
When used with time-related verbs, ちょっと implies a short duration. Very common in requests like 'wait a moment'.
ちょっと待って。
Wait a tiny bit.
Slightly more formal than ちょっと for time. Can be used in polite requests.
Formal expression for a short time, often heard in business or service contexts.
The speaker wants to emphasize that there is absolutely none of something, often translated as 'not even a tiny bit'.
This pattern means 'not even a little'. It strongly negates the verb or adjective. Common in both spoken and written Japanese.
少しも疲れていません。
I'm not even a tiny bit tired.
少しも分からない。
I don't understand even a tiny bit.
A more casual and emphatic version of 少しも. Often used in conversation to mean 'not at all' or 'not a bit'.
ちっとも面白くない。
It's not even a tiny bit interesting.
While 全然 technically means 'completely' or 'not at all', it is often used to mean 'not even a tiny bit' in negative sentences. Very common in casual speech.
全然分からない。
I don't get it even a tiny bit.
ちょっと is the most common in casual speech. 少し is slightly more formal and can be used in writing. 少々 is very formal and mainly used in business or service situations. For everyday conversation, stick with ちょっと or 少し.
ちょっと待って。
Wait a sec. (casual)
少しお待ちください。
Please wait a moment. (polite)
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a moment. (formal)
While ちょっと is extremely common in speech, it can sound too casual in formal essays or business documents. In those contexts, prefer 少し or 少々.
Do you have a tiny bit of time?
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a tiny bit. (formal)