辛(かろ)うじて

かろうじて

adverb

barely, narrowly

1. barely, narrowly, just

Managing to do something by a very small margin, with difficulty.

辛(かろ)うじて合格(ごうかく)した。

I barely passed.

辛(かろ)うじて間(ま)に合(あ)った。

I just barely made it in time.

事故(じこ)を辛(かろ)うじて避(さ)けた。

I narrowly avoided the accident.

辛(かろ)うじて is an adverb meaning "barely" or "narrowly," emphasizing that something was achieved with great difficulty.

Usage

Implies that failure/disaster was very close and success came only by a small margin. Often used for near-misses or last-minute saves.

Common patterns

辛(かろ)うじて間(ま)に合(あ)う: to barely make it in time
辛(かろ)うじて合格(ごうかく)する: to barely pass
辛(かろ)うじて逃(のが)れる: to narrowly escape
辛(かろ)うじて助(たす)かる: to barely survive

Similar words

ぎりぎり: just barely (more casual)
やっと: finally, at last (emphasizes effort)
なんとか: somehow, barely
辛(かろ)うじて: barely (emphasizes small margin)

Related Words

Synonym: ぎりぎり (just barely (casual))

Compare: やっと (finally (effort))

Synonym: 何(なん)とか (somehow, barely)

Compare: どうにか (somehow)

Compare: 細々(ほそぼそ)と (barely)

general

Added 2026.1.16 17:40 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

05500/05721_karoujite