(わず)かな

わずかな
na-adjective
slight, a little
quantity
1. slight, small in quantity or degree
Describes something that exists in a very small amount or to a very small degree. Often implies insufficiency or emphasizes how surprisingly small something is.
(わず)かな()()けた
I lost by a slight margin.
(わず)かな時間(じかん)しか(のこ)っていない
There is only a little time left.
I was living by gradually using up my meager savings.

Usage

Emphasizes smallness in quantity, amount, or degree. Often carries a nuance of "only" or "merely" — highlighting that something is less than expected. The adverbial form (わず)かに is also common.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • (かす)な: emphasizes faintness or weak perceptibility, while (わず)かな emphasizes smallness of quantity or degree
  • (すく)ない: simply means "few" or "little" without the emphatic nuance of (わず)かな