僅(わず)か

わずか
na-adjective, adverb
only, merely, slight
1. only, merely, just
A small amount or number; used to emphasize how small or limited something is.
僅(わず)か五分(ごふん)で着(つ)いた。
I arrived in just five minutes.
残(のこ)りは僅(わず)か三人(さんにん)だけだった。
Only three people remained.
彼(かれ)は僅(わず)か二年(にねん)で日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)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(わず)かな違(ちが)いだ。
It's a slight difference.
僅かな + noun = a slight/small ~
気温(きおん)が僅(わず)かに上(あ)がった。
The temperature rose slightly.
僅かに = slightly (adverbial form)
僅(わず)かな望(のぞ)みを捨(す)てずに最後(さいご)まで努力(どりょく)した。
Without giving up the slightest hope, I kept trying until the end.

僅(わず)か emphasizes how small, few, or slight something is. Slightly formal in tone.

FORMS:

  • 僅(わず)か + number: only/just ~ (僅(わず)か三人(さんにん) — only three people)
  • 僅(わず)かな + noun: a slight ~ (僅(わず)かな差(さ) — a slight difference)
  • 僅(わず)かに + verb: slightly (僅(わず)かに動(うご)く — move slightly)

COMMON PATTERNS:

CONTRAST:

  • 僅(わず)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(すこ)し in being more formal and emphasizing the minimality

Related Words

Contrast: たった
Contrast: ほんの
Contrast: 少(すこ)し
general
Added 2026.1.12 22:34 · Revised 2026.5.28 3:10
03500/03792_wazuka