How to Say “Less Than” in Japanese

In Japanese, the concept of “less than” can be expressed in several ways depending on the context, degree of formality, and regional variations. In this guide, we will explore various ways to convey “less than” in Japanese, including both formal and informal expressions. Let’s dive in and learn together!

Formal Expressions:

When using formal Japanese, you can employ the following expressions to convey the concept of “less than”:

1. 以下（いか） (ika): This term translates to “below” or “under” and is commonly used in formal contexts to express “less than.” For instance, if you want to say “Less than 10,” you can say “10以下” (Jū ika).
2. 未満（みまん） (miman): This expression conveys the idea of “less than” or “not exceeding” and is often used with numerical values. For example, if you want to say “Less than 50,” you would say “50未満” (Gojuu miman).
3. ～より少ない（～よりすくない） (~yori sukunai): This phrase literally means “less than ~” and can be used when comparing quantities. For example, “Less than 3 hours” would be expressed as “3時間より少ない” (San-jikan yori sukunai).

Informal Expressions:

In informal Japanese, people commonly use the following expressions to convey “less than”:

1. ～より少ない（～よりすくない） (~yori sukunai): This expression mentioned earlier in the formal section can also be used in informal conversations when referring to quantities. For instance, if you want to say “I have less than 5 apples,” you would say “りんごは5個より少ない” (Ringo wa goko yori sukunai).
2. ～以下（～いか） (~ika): While “ika” is predominantly used in formal contexts, it can also be used casually to indicate “less than.” For example, “Less than 20 people” can be expressed as “20人以下” (Nijuu-nin ika).

Regional Variations:

When it comes to regional variations in expressing “less than” in Japanese, some dialects may have unique expressions. However, these variations can be considered rare and are not widely used in everyday conversations. Therefore, we will focus on the standard forms mentioned above for common usage scenarios.

Tips for Usage:

To enhance your understanding of how to say “less than” in Japanese, here are some additional tips and examples:

• Remember that the word order in Japanese is different from English. While English generally follows the pattern “A less than B,” Japanese follows “Bの方がAより少ない” (B no hō ga A yori sukunai), meaning “B is less than A.”
• When including specific numbers, make sure to add the appropriate counter-word after the number to indicate the unit of measurement. For example, “Less than 3 days” would be “3日より少ない” (Mikka yori sukunai).
• If you are unsure about the appropriate level of formality, it is generally safer to opt for the formal expressions mentioned earlier.

Example Sentences:
1. 彼の財産は300万円未満です。(Kare no zaisan wa sanhyaku man en miman desu.)
Translation: His wealth is less than 3 million yen.

2. このテストの難易度は予想より少なかったです。(Kono tesuto no nannidoka wa yosō yori sukunakatta desu.)
Translation: The difficulty level of this test was less than expected.

With these expressions and examples, you should now be well-equipped to convey “less than” in Japanese confidently. Remember to consider the context and degree of formality to choose the appropriate expression. Happy learning and communicating in Japanese!