文法: Grammar a Day - Level 4 [ 少し (sukoshi) ]

少し (sukoshi) - a bit...


--- Examples ---
かれは少しおそいですね。
He's a bit late isn't he?  

もう少し居てもいいですか
Can I stay a bit longer?  

「水を少しくださし。」「いいですよ。」
'Please give me some water.' 'All right.'  

11時15分前を少し過ぎています。juuichi ji juugo fun mae wo
sukoshi sugiteimasu.
It is a little after a quarter to eleven.  

あそこは少し高すぎると思います。
I'm afraid that place is a little too expensive.  

あなたの報告書には少し間違いがあります。anatano
houkokusyo niwa sukoshi machigai ga arimasu.
There are a few mistakes in your report.  

お茶が濃すぎるので少し水を加えてください。ocha ga
kosugiru node sukoshi mizu wo kuwaete kudasai.
The tea is too strong. Add some water.  

今日は少し寒い。kyou wa sukoshi samui.
It's a little cold today.  

この靴は少しゆるい。kono kutsu wa sukoshi yurui.
These shoes are a little loose.  

このスープは塩が少し足りない。
This soup wants a bit of salt.  

このスカートは少しきついのです。
The skirt is a little tight for me.  

--- Comments ---
Don't get sukoshi confused with chiisai
少し : sukoshi samui desu (a bit cold)
小さい : chiisai neko desu (a little cat) (contributor: Amatuka)

少し 【すこし】 (adv,n) (1) small quantity; little; few; something;
(2) little while; (3) short distance; (P)
(contributor: Amatuka)

Roma-ji in red is wrong, it should be s_U_koshi. (contributor: Miki)

*sigh* romaji will be the death of me. (contributor: Amatuka)

彼は少しおそいですね is a bit confusing because it could also
mean 'he's a bit slow.' 彼はすこし遅れてますね would sound
clearer. (contributor: bamboo4)

ex #4934 - 'This soup needs a bit of salt.' reads better in English.
(contributor: GenkiGuy)

actually the translation is not that literal. 足りない means not
enough. so 'this soup's saltiness is not quite enough'. i prefer literal
translations as my english is fine - would rather know exactly what the
japanese way of saying it is. (contributor: dc)

彼はちょっと遅いですね。Would be better? (contributor: 誠)

彼はちょっと遅いですね would be better, but we are here
concerned with すこし.
(contributor: bambo4)

For #4934, how about 'This soup is  short on salt' or 'This soup isn't 
salty enough'? (contributor: KWhazit)

What's the difference between 少し and ちょっと? (contributor:
herinapotter)

Sukoshi is more formal than chotto. I teach Japanese myself at
www.freewebs.com/kanjiwebs/ 
Course not as near as much stuff as this place does but it's just gotten
started. Of all my time learning Japanese this place is the best.
(contributor: IMABI)

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