1.
only, merely, just
A small amount or number; used to emphasize how small or limited something is.
僅か五分で着いた。
I arrived in just five minutes.
残りは僅か三人だけだった。
Only three people remained.
彼は僅か二年で日本語を話せるようになった。
He became able to speak Japanese in just two years.
2.
slight, small, little
Very small in degree or amount.
僅かな違いだ。
It's a slight difference.
僅かな + noun = a slight/small ~
気温が僅かに上がった。
The temperature rose slightly.
僅かに = slightly (adverbial form)
僅かな望みを捨てずに最後まで努力した。
Without giving up the slightest hope, I kept trying until the end.
僅か emphasizes how small, few, or slight something is. Slightly formal in tone.
FORMS:
- 僅か + number: only/just ~ (僅か三人 — only three people)
- 僅かな + noun: a slight ~ (僅かな差 — a slight difference)
- 僅かに + verb: slightly (僅かに動く — move slightly)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 僅か〜だけ: only ~, just ~
- 僅かな望み: a slim hope
- 僅かに残る: to barely remain
CONTRAST:
- 僅か: emphasizes smallness (slightly formal)
- たった: only, just (casual, emphatic)
- ほんの: just a little (modest, softening)
- わずかに differs from 少し in being more formal and emphasizing the minimality