1.
faint, slight, barely perceptible
Describes something that is very weak or subtle, barely detectable by the senses. Used for sounds, light, smells, movements, or abstract things like hope or memory.
微かな音がした。
I heard a faint sound.
微かな光が窓から差し込んでいた。
A faint light was streaming in through the window.
遠くから微かな音楽が聞こえてきたので、耳を澄ました。
I could hear faint music from far away, so I listened carefully.
USAGE:
Describes things that are barely perceptible — sounds, light, smells, sensations, or abstract things like hope or memory. The adverbial form 微かに is also very common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 微かな音 (faint sound)
- 微かな光 (faint light)
- 微かな香り (faint fragrance)
- 微かな望み (faint hope)
- 微かな記憶 (faint memory)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 僅かな: emphasizes smallness in quantity or degree, while 微かな emphasizes weak perceptibility
- 薄い: thin, pale — describes visual faintness more than sensory faintness