Translation guide
Expressing a very small amount or degree in Japanese. The most common and versatile option is 少し (sukoshi), often intensified with adverbs like 本当に (hontō ni) or ごく (goku). For negative contexts, ほとんど〜ない (hotondo ~ nai) is the standard pattern. Other options include わずか (wazuka) for formal/written emphasis on scarcity, and ちょっと (chotto) for casual speech.
時間がほとんどありません。
I have very little time.
塩をほんの少し入れてください。
Add a very little salt.
Express that there is only a tiny quantity of something, or that something happens to a very small extent.
The most basic and neutral word for 'a little' or 'a small amount'. To emphasize 'very little', it is often combined with adverbs like 本当に (hontō ni) or ごく (goku).
砂糖は本当に少しだけ入れてください。
Please add only a very little sugar.
ごく少しの塩で味が変わる。
A very little salt changes the flavor.
Means 'only a little' or 'a mere', emphasizing scarcity or insufficiency. Often used in formal or written contexts. Can be used as an adverb or a na-adjective.
わずかな違いで結果が大きく変わる。
A very little difference can greatly change the outcome.
彼はわずか10分で問題を解いた。
He solved the problem in a mere 10 minutes.
Casual equivalent of 少し. Often used in spoken Japanese. To emphasize 'very little', combine with だけ (dake) or use ほんのちょっと (honno chotto).
ほんのちょっとだけ味見させて。
Let me taste just a very little bit.
ちょっと待って。
Wait a little. (very common casual phrase)
Emphatic combination meaning 'extremely little' or 'minute'. Used in formal or technical descriptions.
ごくわずかな量の化学物質が検出された。
A very minute amount of the chemical substance was detected.
Express that there is almost nothing of something, or that something hardly happens at all.
The standard pattern for 'hardly any' or 'almost no'. ほとんど (hotondo) means 'almost', and the negative verb completes the meaning. Works with verbs, nouns (using がない), and adjectives.
冷蔵庫にほとんど食べ物がない。
There is very little food in the fridge.
彼はほとんど日本語を話さない。
He speaks very little Japanese.
この問題についてはほとんど知られていない。
Very little is known about this issue.
Means 'not very much' or 'not often'. Slightly weaker than ほとんど〜ない. Often used in casual speech.
あまり時間がない。
I have very little time. (lit. not much time)
彼はあまり食べない。
He eats very little.
Means 'rarely' or 'hardly ever'. Used for frequency, not amount. Emphasizes that something almost never happens.
彼はめったに怒らない。
He very rarely gets angry. (shows very little anger)
Describe a person, object, or amount as tiny or minimal.
Literally 'very small'. The most direct way to describe tiny size. とても (totemo) can be replaced with すごく (sugoku) for emphasis.
その犬はとても小さい。
That dog is very little.
Colloquial word meaning 'tiny' or 'insignificant'. Often carries a nuance of being pitifully small.
ちっぽけなアパートに住んでいる。
I live in a very little apartment.
Technical term for 'microscopic' or 'minute'. Used in scientific contexts.
While とても少ない (totemo sukunai) is grammatically correct, it is less natural than using 少し or ほとんど〜ない in many contexts. For amounts, 少ししかない (sukoshi shika nai) or ほとんどない (hotondo nai) are preferred.
お金が少ししかない。
I have very little money.
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 both speech and writing. To emphasize 'very little', ほんの少し/ちょっと (honno sukoshi/chotto) is common.
ほんの少しだけください。
Just a very little, please. (polite)
ほんのちょっとだけちょうだい。
Just a very little, give me. (casual)
Observe very little particles.