ちょっと・一寸・鳥渡chotto[3]odaka (tail-high)

1. adverba little; a bit; slightly
   この机つくえは私にはちょっと低ひくい。↗

   This desk is a little low for me.
2. adverbjust a minute; for a moment; briefly
   ネクタイを締しめる間あいだ、ちょっとじっとしてね。↗

   Hold still a moment while I fix your tie.
3. adverbsomewhat; rather; fairly; pretty; quite
4. adverb(not) easily; (not) readilybefore a verb in negative form
   それ以上いじょうの仕事しごとはちょっと見みつからないだろう。↗

   You won't find a better job in a hurry.
5. interjectionhey!; come on; excuse me
   ちょっと、そこのきみ！↗

   Hey, you there!
6. expressionthanks, but no; not feasible; not possible
7. suffixa little more than (a week, month, etc.); slightly more thanafter an amount

• Synonym少々しょうしょうFormalA formal, polite version of 「少し」, common in service and business settings, e.g. 「少々お待ちください」; 「ちょっと」 is more colloquial.
• Synonym少しすこしNeutralThe neutral word for 'a little', fine in both speech and writing; 「ちょっと」 is more colloquial and also works for soft refusals or calling out to someone.
• SynonymわずかNeutralStresses that an amount or degree is extremely small, often with a 'merely' nuance, as in 「わずか三日で」; more objective than 「ちょっと」.
• SynonymちょいCasualA more casual, clipped spoken form of 「ちょっと」, as in 「ちょい待って」; also a prefix in coinages like 「ちょい悪」 and 「ちょい足し」.
• SynonymいささかWrittenLiterary 'a bit, somewhat', as in 「いささか疲れた」, for praise or criticism alike; 「いささかも」 with a negative means 'not at all'; colloquial 「ちょっと」 can also call out to someone.
• SynonymちょびっとCasualColloquial 'just a tiny bit', as in 「ちょびっとだけ」; stresses smallness more than 「ちょっと」, with a light, playful tone; can't call out to someone or soften a refusal.
• SynonymいくらかNeutralMeans 'some, to some extent', as in 「いくらか楽になった」; focuses on there being a certain amount, with a calm, measured tone.
• SynonymちいとCasualDialectal or old-fashioned colloquial equivalent of 「ちょっと」 meaning 'a little, a moment'; rare in standard Japanese.
• Related心持ちこころもちNeutralAs an adverb, means 'slightly', often for fine adjustments, as in 「心持ち右に寄せる」; has a somewhat refined feel.
• Related幾分いくぶんWrittenMeans 'to some extent', as in 「幾分涼しくなった」; a bit more written in register than 「少し」.
• RelatedややWrittenWritten-style word for 'slightly', mostly in objective description, as in 「やや高い」; not used for requests or refusals.
• Related多少たしょうNeutralMeans 'more or less, to some degree', as in 「多少の違い」; stresses the amount is small but real; also a noun meaning quantity.
• Related若干じゃっかんWrittenAn indefinite but small number or amount, as in 「若干名」; mostly in documents and news, with a formal tone.
• RelatedちっとCasualOld-fashioned colloquial equivalent of 「ちょっと」 and 「ちと」, meaning 'a little, a moment'; little used today.
• RelatedちょっくらCasualOld-fashioned or dialectal colloquialism for 'a little, a moment', as in 「ちょっくら行ってくる」; has a folksy, casual flavour.

For everyday 'a little' or 'a moment', 「ちょっと」 is the default; 「少し」 is the neutral all-purpose choice and 「少々」 the polite one for service or business. In writing, reach for 「やや」 or 「若干」; to stress how tiny an amount is, use 「わずか」.

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

1. ほんのわずかな物ものの例たとえ。