Japanese word

僅々

Pronunciation

Romajikinkin

Meaning

  • adverbonly

Example

費用は僅々千円です。hi yō wa kin kin sen en de su

The cost is only one thousand yen.

Illustration for 僅々 (only)

More examples

その作業は僅々数分で終わります。so no sa gyō wa kin kin sū fun de o wa ri ma su

The task will be finished in only a few minutes.

Core concept

Marks an amount as very small and limits the statement to that amount.

Common phrases

  • 僅々数名kin kin sū mei

    only a few people

  • 僅々数分kin kin sū fun

    only a few minutes

Similar words

たったtatta: Emphasizes that an amount is small and may suggest that it is less than expected.
わずかにwazukani: Shows that an amount is small and can describe a slight degree as well.

Definition in Japanese

数量などがごく少ないことを強調して、それだけであることを表す語。sū ryō na do ga go ku suku na i ko to o kyō chō shi te so re da ke de a ru ko to o arawa su go

Word origin

僅々 (kinkin) is formed by repeating 僅 (kin, "slight"), emphasizing that the amount is very small.

Usage tips

  • 僅々 (kinkin) is a formal written expression, while everyday Japanese more often uses たった (tatta) or わずかに (wazuka ni) for "only."

Word lists with this word