いささか・些か・聊か・些・聊isasaka[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. adverb, no-adjective, na-adjectivea little; a bit; somewhat; slightly; rather
   ここだけの話はなしだが、彼かれはいささか間あいだが抜ぬけている。↗

   Between you and me, he is rather stupid.

• Synonym少々しょうしょうNeutralPolite way to say a little; typical of set phrases like 「少々お待ちください」. More common than 「些か」 and without its written, bookish feel.
• SynonymちょっとCasualThe most common colloquial word for a little; also used to call out to someone. 「些か」 is the bookish one.
• Synonym少しすこしNeutralThe plainest, most ordinary word for a little, used in both speech and writing. 「些か」 is bookish and sounds more solemn.
• Synonym幾分いくぶんWrittenWritten word meaning to some extent, stressing the part rather than the whole. Close to 「些か」 but with little of its humble or ironic flavor.
• SynonymわずかNeutralEmphasizes that an amount or degree is very small, often right before a number as in 「僅か三人」. Stronger in tone than 「些か」.
• Synonym若干じゃっかんWrittenMostly for a small, indefinite number, as in 「若干名」. 「些か」 is more often about degree.
• SynonymややWrittenThe same word 「やや」 as above; it describes degree objectively, unlike 「些か」, which often carries an ironic tone.
• SynonymいくらかNeutralSomewhat, with the focus on degree; at home in speech and writing and plainer than 「些か」.
• Related心持ちこころもちNeutralAs an adverb, just a little, often to fine-tune an amount or position, as in 「心持ち多めに」; also a noun for mood.
• RelatedややWrittenThe same word 「やや」 as above; it describes degree objectively, unlike 「些か」, which often carries an ironic tone.
• Related多少たしょうNeutralSomewhat, to some degree; used in speech and writing and more everyday than 「些か」.
• RelatedちょびっとCasualA playful colloquial word for just a tiny bit; far more casual than 「些か」.
• RelatedちょいWrittenWritten this way, the word means the position of heir to the throne and has nothing to do with the slightly sense of 「些か」; to say a little in speech, use 「ちょっと」.
• RelatedちっとCasualOld-fashioned colloquial word for a little or a short while; more casual than 「些か」.
• RelatedちょっくらCasualDialectal, folksy word for a short while or a moment; much more casual than 「些か」.
• RelatedちっとやそっとCasualJust a tiny bit, typically in the negative pattern 「ちっとやそっとでは…ない」. Colloquial, while 「些か」 is bookish.
• RelatedぽっちりCasualA cute-sounding colloquial word for just a little; fairly rare and a different register from 「些か」.

For everyday a little, use 「少し」 in speech and writing or 「ちょっと」 in conversation; 「少々」 is the polite choice, as in 「少々お待ちください」. Pick 「些か」 for written prose with a humble or ironic note, as in 「些か疑問だ」. For degree, 「幾分」, 「やや」 and 「多少」 are close; for small quantities, 「僅か」 (before numbers) and 「若干」 (indefinite, 「若干名」). 「ちょびっと」, 「ちっとやそっと」 and the like are casual spoken words; the 「ちょい」 entry written 儲位 means heirship and does not belong here.

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

1. ほんの少すこし。わずかばかり。
2. （打ち消うちけしの言葉ことばとともに）少すこしも。現代語げんだいごでは「いささかも」などの形かたちをとる。