やや

や

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

adverb, noun-modifying (irregular)

usually written using kana alone

Expresses a moderate degree or small amount. Can modify adjectives, verbs, or nouns. The 'a short time' nuance is less common and usually clear from context.

今日きょうはやや寒さむいですね。

It's a little cold today, isn't it?

やや大おおきめのサイズをください。

Please give me a slightly larger size.

ややあって、彼かれは話はなし始はじめた。

After a short while, he began to speak.

Usage patterns

やや〈形けい容よう詞し〉somewhat/slightly ~ (modifying an adjective)
この問もん題だいはやや難むずかしい。
This problem is somewhat difficult.
やや〈動詞〉気味だややきみだto show a slight tendency toward doing/being something
最さい近きんやや疲つかれ気ぎ味みだ。
I've been feeling a bit tired lately.
やや〜傾けい向こうにあるto show a slight trend of ~
売うり上あげはやや上じょう昇しょう傾けい向こうにある。
Sales are showing a slight upward trend.

Expressions

ややあってa little while later; after a short time

Kanji

稍slightly
漸steadily, gradually advancing, finally

Related words

少すこしN5
少し is the everyday, casual word for 'a little', while やや is slightly more formal or written and pairs naturally with adjectives.
ちょっとN5
ちょっと is very casual and conversational, whereas やや is more neutral and appears often in writing or formal speech.
多た少しょうN3
多少 emphasizes 'to some extent, however small' and is common in formal or written contexts, similar in register to やや.
若じゃっ干かんN2
若干 is more formal and often used with countable nouns or numbers, while やや more naturally modifies adjectives and verbs.

Word family

稍やや重おも
good to soft (track condition); good to yielding

Written forms

ややUsage99%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
稍ややUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use kana.
漸やや
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use kana.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it may be related to the classical adverb やや (meaning 'a little' or 'gradually'). The kanji forms 稍 and 漸 are rarely used in modern Japanese.