少し
sukoshi[sɨ̥ko̞ɕi]
In Japanese, 'a little' can be expressed as 少し (sukoshi) or ちょっと (chotto).
Meaning: to a small extent or degree (adv)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 少し | sukoshi | [sɨ̥ko̞ɕi] (narrow) |
| ちょっと | chotto | [t͡ɕo̞t̚to̞] (narrow) |
Both forms are used to indicate that something occurs to a small extent or degree. Beyond expressing quantity or degree, ちょっと is frequently used as a euphemism to politely decline an invitation or express hesitation, functioning similarly to saying 'It's a bit…' or 'That's a little…' in English.
Which one should you use?
While both mean 'a little', 少し is more formal and polite, whereas ちょっと is more colloquial and common in daily conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'a little more', you add もう (mou) before either 少し or ちょっと, resulting in もう少し or もうちょっと.
How do you pronounce it?
sukoshi
When do people say it?
Because ちょっと can function as a euphemism for declining something, it is a common way to express hesitation or a polite 'no' without being blunt.
Did you know?
- The word ちょっと is used as a verbal signal to get someone's attention, similar to saying 'excuse me' or 'hey' in English.
- The ち (chi) in ちょっと is a cognate of the ち in 小さい (chīsai), which means 'small'.
- In Japanese, ちょっと can be used entirely on its own as a polite way to say 'no' without ever finishing the sentence. A listener understands the refusal by the silence that follows the word.
Examples in context
- 少し疲れた。I'm a little tired.This sentence shows how to use 少し to express a state of being tired.Tatoeba #146779 by bunbuku, translation #258671 by CK
- 少し忙しい。I'm a little busy.This sentence shows how to use 少し to express being busy.Tatoeba #2226724 by bunbuku, translation #1890951 by CK
- もうちょっと。A little more.This sentence shows how to use ちょっと to express the need for 'a little more'.Tatoeba #194395 by small_snow, translation #1349791 by marcelostockle
- 日本語が少し話せます。I can speak a little Japanese.
- 申し訳ありませんが、少し待っていただけますか？Excuse me, could you wait a moment?
- お待ちください、ちょっと時間をいただけますか？Please wait a moment, can you spare me a little time?
- ちょっと手伝ってくれる？Can you help me for a bit?
- ちょっと日本語がわかるようになりたいな。I want to become able to understand a little Japanese.
- 645 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing how much spicy food they can eat.
- 結衣 Yuiこの料理は少し辛いですか？Kono ryouri wa sukoshi karai desu ka?Is this dish a little spicy?
- 蓮 Renはい、少し辛いですよ。Hai, sukoshi karai desu yo.Yes, it is a little spicy.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さんは大丈夫ですか？Ren-san wa daijoubu desu ka?Are you okay, Ren?
- 蓮 Renはい、少しだけなら大丈夫です。Hai, sukoshi dake nara daijoubu desu.Yes, I am fine if it is only a little.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “a little” translations and entries 少し, ちょっと, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ちょっと, 少し, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
