Japanese word

多少

Pronunciation

Romajitashō

Meaning

  • adverba little

Example

私は多少日本語がわかります。watashi wa ta shō nihon go ga wa ka ri ma su

I understand a little Japanese.

Illustration for 多少 (a little)

More examples

説明が多少足りませんが、内容は理解できます。setsu mei ga ta shō ta ri ma se n ga nai yō wa ri kai de ki ma su

The explanation is somewhat lacking, but I can understand the content.

Core concept

It indicates that something exists to a limited extent, while leaving the precise amount unspecified.

Common phrases

  • 多少わかるta shō wa ka ru

    understand a little

  • 多少話せるta shō hana se ru

    speak a little

  • 多少聞き取れるta shō ki ki to re ru

    catch a few words

Similar words

少しsukoshi: To a small degree or amount.
ちょっとchotto: To a small degree or amount in casual speech.
ややyaya: To a somewhat limited degree, often in careful or formal statements.

Definition in Japanese

物事の程度や数量がわずかであること。mono goto no tei do ya sū ryō ga wa zu ka de a ru ko to

Word origin

多少 (tashō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 多 (ta, "many") and 少 (shō, "few"), whose contrast gives the word its sense of an indefinite amount.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 多少 (tashō) can sound measured or slightly formal, so it often appears in careful statements that avoid precise amounts.

Other meanings

  • slightlyadverb
  • somewhatadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word