少(すこ)し

すこし

adverb

a little, a few

1. a little

A small amount or degree.

日本語(にほんご)が少(すこ)しわかります。

I understand a little Japanese.

少(すこ)し休(やす)みましょう。

Let's rest a little.

お酒(さけ)を少(すこ)しください。

A little sake, please.

少(すこ)し寒(さむ)いので、窓(まど)を閉(し)めてください。

It's a little cold, so please close the window.

少(すこ)し時間(じかん)がかかりますが、よろしいですか。お待(ま)ちいただけますか。

It will take a little time - is that okay? Can you wait?

少(すこ)し means "a little" or "a small amount," usable as both adverb and noun.

Common patterns

Adverb: 少(すこ)し待(ま)ってください (please wait a little)
With の: 少(すこ)しの時間(じかん) (a little time)
少(すこ)しずつ: little by little, gradually
少(すこ)しも〜ない: not at all, not in the least
もう少(すこ)し: a little more

Register

More polished/polite-sounding than ちょっと, but still an everyday, neutral word.

Similar words

ちょっと: a little (casual, also used as "excuse me")
少々(しょうしょう): a little (very formal, often service industry)
多少(たしょう): somewhat, more or less
たくさん: a lot, many

Related Words

Synonym: ちょっと (casual)

Antonym: たくさん (a lot, many)

Compare: 僅(わず)か

Compare: 少々(しょうしょう) (a little)

Compare: 多少(たしょう) (somewhat, more or less)

Compare: 少(すく)ない (few, little)

Compare: しばらく (for a while)

Compare: 幾分(いくぶん) (somewhat, to some extent)

Compare: ちょっぴり (a tiny bit)

Compare: ちょい (a bit, slightly)

Compare: 心持(こころも)ち (feeling, mood)

Compare: かなり (fairly, quite, considerably)

basic

Added 2026.1.8 0:50 · Revised 2026.10.9 4:35

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