薄うすい

i-adjective

thin; not thick

Used for physical thickness, especially flat objects such as paper, cloth, boards, walls, or layers.

• この紙かみは薄うすくて、すぐ破やぶれそうだ。

  This paper is thin and looks like it will tear easily.

• 薄うすい板いたを何なん枚まいも重かさねた。

  I stacked many thin boards on top of one another.

i-adjective

pale; light-colored; faint

Describes color, light, marks, shadows, or similar visual impressions that are low in intensity.

• 彼かの女じょは薄うすいピンクのシャツを着きていた。

  She was wearing a pale pink shirt.

• 壁かべに薄うすい影かげが映うつっている。

  A faint shadow is showing on the wall.

i-adjective

watery; diluted; thin

Used when a liquid, drink, sauce, or mixture has too much water or too little concentration.

• 氷こおりが溶とけて、ジュースが薄うすくなった。

  The ice melted, and the juice became diluted.

• このソースは少すこし薄うすい。

  This sauce is a little thin.

i-adjective

weak; slight; not strong

Covers low intensity in taste, feeling, interest, affection, or presence. Common collocations include 味が薄い, 関心が薄い, and 影が薄い.

• この料りょう理りは味あじが薄うすい。

  This dish has a weak taste.

• 彼かれは会かい議ぎではいつも影かげが薄うすい。

  He always has little presence in meetings.

• その問もん題だいに対たいする関かん心しんはまだ薄うすい。

  Interest in that issue is still weak.

i-adjective

slim; small; unlikely

Used for a low chance, possibility, likelihood, or expectation; especially common with 可能性 and 見込み.

• 今いまから逆ぎゃく転てんできる可か能のう性せいは薄うすい。

  The possibility of turning things around now is slim.

• 彼かれが今日きょう中じゅうに戻もどる見み込こみは薄うすい。

  There is little chance that he will return by the end of today.

i-adjective

sparse; patchy; thinly spread

Used when hair, fur, growth, or similar coverage is not dense. Context is important because 薄い can also mean pale in color.

• 父ちちは最さい近きん、髪かみが薄うすくなってきた。

  My father's hair has been getting thinner recently.

• この犬いぬはお腹なかの毛けが薄うすい。

  This dog has sparse fur on its belly.