たった

た

っ

た

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun-modifying (irregular), adverb

Emphasizes a small amount, number, or degree. Often used with numbers or quantity expressions. Can carry a nuance of disappointment or surprise at how little there is.

たった

一人ひとり

で

旅たび

に

出で

た

。

I set off on a journey all alone (just by myself).

たったの百ひゃく円えんしか持もっていない。

I only have a mere 100 yen.

たった今いま、駅えきに着ついたところです。

I arrived at the station just now.

Usage patterns

たった〈数すう〉でin just a short amount of time/quantity
たった三みっ日かで新あたらしいスキルを覚おぼえた。
He learned the new skill in just three days.
たった〈数すう〉しかないthere is only a mere amount of ... (emphasizing scarcity)
財さい布ふにはたった千せん円えんしかない。
I have only a thousand yen in my wallet.

Expressions

たった一ひとつonly one; just one; single
たった一人ひとりjust one person; only one

Related words

わずかN3
わずか is a more formal na-adjective/adverb meaning 'a little' or 'slight', while たった is colloquial and more emphatic about how small the amount is.
だけN5
だけ is a particle meaning 'only', attaching directly to nouns or clauses, while たった is an adverb that intensifies smallness and is often paired with numbers or だけ itself.
ほんのN2
ほんの is an attributive word meaning 'mere' or 'just' used directly before a noun, while たった more commonly precedes numbers and can stand alone before them.
僅きん々きんN1
たった is the common colloquial word for 'only/just', while 僅々 is a literary, old-fashioned adverb used mainly in formal writing.
たかがN1
たった stresses how small a quantity is without judging its importance, while 高が explicitly belittles it as insignificant.

Word family

たった今いまN4
just now; a moment ago; this very minute

Etymology

Derived from the adverb ただ (only, merely) with gemination for emphasis. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it is a common colloquial intensifier.