How to say "slight" in Japanese

• 小こCommon
  prefixCovers 'slight' only as smallness: a slight amount, size, or degree. It is really the 'small; little' element, so it does not fit trivial matters or insults.
• 軽度けいどCommon
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveThe word for 'slight' as 'mild' in medical and clinical talk: mild symptoms, a slight disability, a light condition. Use it when slightness describes how mild a condition or impairment is.
• 些細ささいCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'slight' when it means trivial or insignificant: a slight difference, a trifling mistake, a detail not worth attention. The nuance is that the thing hardly matters at all.
  そんなささいなことで私を悩なやまさないでくれ。↗

  Don't bother me with such trifles.
• 侮辱ぶじょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe noun 'slight': an insult or affront, as in taking a remark as a slight. It also covers legal contempt, such as contempt of court — never the adjective 'slight' meaning small in degree.
  上司じょうしを侮辱ぶじょくするような危険きけんをおかすな。↗

  Don't risk insulting your boss.
• 軽微けいびCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'slight' as small in degree and of little consequence: slight damage, slight changes, slight errors. Typical of written reports and official descriptions where a deviation or problem is judged minor.
  被弾ひだんしました。ダメージは軽微けいびです。↗

  We've taken a hit. Trivial damage.

Pick by sense: 小 for slight meaning small in size or amount, 軽度 for mild symptoms or disability, 軽微 for slight damage or changes, 些細 for trivial matters, and 侮辱 for the noun 'slight', an insult.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 小こsmall
• 軽度けいどslight
• 些細ささいtrivial
• 侮辱ぶじょくinsult
• 軽微けいびslight
• 蔑視べっしcontempt
• わずかa little
• ほんのmere
• かすかfaint
• 侮蔑ぶべつscorn
• ないがしろ(a) slight
• 微々びびslight
• ちょっとしたslight
• 眇眇びょうびょうslight
• うすらslight
• ほっそりslim
• 微少びしょうvery small
• 軽少けいしょうtrifling
• ないがしろにするto make light of
• よそにするto neglect
• そこはかとないfaint
• ゆるがせにするto be negligent
• かりそめにするto make light of
• 些少さしょうtrifling
• 僅少きんしょうa little
• 骨細ほねぼそsmall-boned
• 小さいちいさいslight
• 浅いあさいslight (wound)
• 貧しいまずしいlacking (quantity and quality-wise)
• 凌ぐしのぐto surpass
• かりそめtrifling
• 軽いかるいslight