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ちょっと

ちょっとchottoN5casual

a bit + savor

chotto ajiwau

a bit; slightly — a small degree, and in speech the all-purpose softener

meaning: savor a bit

Related

  • 味あじわう
  • ちょっと〜
  • ちょっと味あじわう

疲つかれたから、ここでちょっと味あじわう。

tsukareta kara, koko de chotto ajiwau.

I'm tired, so I'll savor a bit here. neutral

今日きょうはちょっと…。また今度こんどでもいい？

kyou wa chotto... mata kondo demo ii?

Today's a bit… Could we make it another time? casual

All examples5

a bit; briefly — a small amount, or a short while

  1. 疲つかれたから、ここでちょっと休やすむ。

    tsukareta kara, koko de chotto yasumu.

    I'm tired, so I'll rest a bit here. neutral

  2. この靴くつ、ちょっと小ちいさいです。

    kono kutsu, chotto chiisai desu.

    These shoes are a little small. neutral

  3. 失礼しつれいします。ちょっとお伺うかがいしてもよろしいでしょうか。

    shitsurei shimasu. chotto oukagai shite mo yoroshii deshou ka.

    Excuse me — might I ask you something? formal

the softener — a refusal or an awkward topic, often left unfinished

  1. 今日きょうはちょっと…。また今度こんどでもいい？

    kyou wa chotto... mata kondo demo ii?

    Today's a bit… Could we make it another time? casual

  2. その言いい方かたはちょっと失礼しつれいじゃない？

    sono iikata wa chotto shitsurei ja nai?

    Isn't that a slightly rude way to put it? casual

How it's formed3

All forms2

  • ちょいchoicolloquial

    the live clipping, at home in slang compounds — ちょい待まって, ちょい足たし。

  • ちょいとchoitocolloquial

    dated and 下町したまち-flavoured, the shape 落語らくご speaks in — ちょいと、あんた。

Notes

ちょっと also calls someone over — ちょっと、すみません — where it is an
attention-getter rather than a degree word.