かすか

か

す

か

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective

usually written using kana alone

Describes something barely perceptible by the senses or mind: a faint sound, light, smell, hope, memory, etc.

部屋へやにはかすかに花はなの香かおりが残のこっていた。

A faint scent of flowers lingered in the room.

2

na-adjective

usually written using kana alone

Used for something insufficient in amount, degree, or quality; often with a negative or pitying nuance. Less common than sense 1.

かすかUsage79%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 微か and 幽か are rare and mainly literary.
微かすかUsage19%
Rare kanji form; 微 suggests faintness or subtlety.
幽かすかUsage2%
Rare kanji form; 幽 suggests dimness or seclusion.

ほのか
ほのか also means faint or slight, but often implies a gentle, pleasant subtlety (e.g., ほのかな香り), while かすか can be used for barely noticeable or weak things regardless of pleasantness.
わずか
わずか emphasizes a small amount or degree, often with a sense of 'only' or 'mere', while かすか focuses on indistinctness or faintness of perception.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to classical Japanese かすか (kasuka) meaning 'faint' or 'dim', but the exact derivation is unclear.