惜しい
oshii
The English phrase "so close" is expressed in Japanese as 惜しい (oshii).
惜しい is used to describe a situation where someone almost achieved a goal or got an answer right but failed by a small margin. In casual settings, such as watching a sports game or playing a video game, it is often used as a standalone exclamation to react to a near-miss. Other ways to express being "almost there" include もう少しで着きます or もうすぐだよ！, while 目前（もくぜん）です specifically describes something being right before your eyes or immediately in front of you.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 惜しい comes from a root meaning that something is a pity, a waste or regrettable. This implies that the loss was a shame because it was so close.
Which one should you use?
You can use the slang expression もうちょい！ to mean "just a bit more!" To say "just a little bit more", you can use もう少しだよ！
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For polite social settings or when speaking to superiors, you can use 惜しいですね to mean "That was close, wasn't it?" The expression もう少しで着きます is a formal way to say "almost there" or "about to arrive". In contrast, もうちょい！ is considered slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that a missed opportunity happened in the past, use the past tense form 惜しかった.
How do you pronounce it?
oshii
Did you know?
- If you use 惜しい to describe a person being physically close to you, it will sound as if you are expressing pity for them or suggesting their existence is a waste, rather than describing their distance.
- While 惜しい often describes a near-miss in a game, it can also describe a feeling of reluctance to throw something away because it is still useful. In this context, it means the item is 'too precious' to waste.
- The word 惜しい is fundamentally different from English phrases like 'close call' used for narrow escapes from danger. Using 惜しい for a near-accident would imply you are sad that you didn't actually get hit.
Examples in context
- まもなくゴールだよ！We're almost at the goal!
- もう少しだ。頑張って！Just a little bit more. Keep going!
- 惜しい！あと少しだったね。Oshii! Ato sukoshi datta ne.So close! You were almost there.
- 答えは惜しいけど、間違いです。Kotae wa oshii kedo, machigai desu.Your answer is so close, but it is wrong.
- ゴールまであと一歩、惜しい！Gooru made ato ippo, oshii!Just one step from the goal, so close!
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are playing a video game together.
- 健太 Kentaあ、あと少しでクリアできたのに！A, ato sukoshi de kuria dekita no ni!Ah, I almost cleared it!
- 陽葵 Himari本当に惜しい！Hontou ni oshii!That was so close!
- 健太 Kenta次は絶対勝てるよ。Tsugi wa zettai kateru yo.I can definitely win next time.
- 陽葵 Himari健太くんなら大丈夫。Kenta-kun nara daijoubu.You can do it, Kenta.
