たった

adverb

only; just; merely

1. only; just; merely; no more than

Emphasizes that something is limited to a small amount, short time, or few items. Often conveys surprise or disappointment at how small or few something is.

たった百円(ひゃくえん)で買(か)えた。

I was able to buy it for just 100 yen.

たった一人(ひとり)で全部(ぜんぶ)やった。

I did it all by myself alone.

[Note: たった一人 = all alone, just one person]

会議(かいぎ)はたった十分(じゅっぷん)で終(お)わった。

The meeting ended in just ten minutes.

たった三日(みっか)で日本語(にほんご)を覚(おぼ)えるのは無理(むり)だ。

It's impossible to learn Japanese in just three days.

彼(かれ)はたった二年(にねん)で会社(かいしゃ)を大(おお)きくして、今(いま)では百人(ひゃくにん)の社員(しゃいん)がいる。

He grew the company in just two years, and now it has a hundred employees.

WRITING: Usually written in hiragana. Can be written as 唯(ただ) but this is rare.

USAGE: Emphasizes smallness of quantity, time, or number. Often expresses:

Surprise at how little/few
Loneliness or isolation (たった一人(ひとり))
Quick completion (たった〜で)

PATTERNS:

たった + number/counter
たった今(いま) (just now)
たった一(ひと)つ (only one)
たった一人(ひとり) (all alone)

SIMILAR WORDS:

ただ (only, just - less emphatic)
わずか (only, merely - more formal)
ほんの (just, only a little)
僅(わず)か (only, merely)

Related Words

Related: ただ (only (less emphatic))

Contrast: 僅(わず)か

core

Added 2026.1.13 19:53 · Revised 2026.5.28 3:11

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