Entry
ちょっぴり
choppiri
ちょっぴり (choppiri) means a very small amount or degree, often conveying a cute, subjective, or emotional nuance.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This adverb represents a smidgen, a tiny fraction, or a slight degree of something. Compared to the standard ちょっと (chotto) or 少し (sukoshi), ちょっぴり sounds more casual, emotive, and slightly endearing. It is frequently used with adjectives describing emotions like sadness or happiness, or for tiny physical amounts.
- a very small physical amount
- a slight feeling or degree
Sense Map
Amount / Degree
Indicates a very small physical quantity or a minor degree of a state.
塩をちょっぴり入れる。
Emotion / Feeling
Expresses that an emotion is felt to a slight, soft degree.
ちょっぴり恥ずかしい。
Usage Note
How to Use
ちょっぴり + Adjective
Placed before an adjective to mean 'a tiny bit (adjective)', such as a tiny bit expensive or a little sad.
ちょっぴり + Verb
Placed before a verb to show that an action is done to a very small extent.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ちょっぴり寂しい
a little lonely
ちょっぴり恥ずかしい
a little embarrassed
ちょっぴり嬉しい
a little happy
ちょっぴり不安
a little anxious
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday casual talk | positive | Adds a soft, endearing, or slightly cute tone to the conversation. |
| Expressing negative feelings | neutral | Helps to soften emotions like sadness or anxiety so they do not sound too heavy. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちょっと ちょっと / similar | The standard, most common word for 'a little' in casual contexts. | More neutral and lacks the cute, emotive nuance of ちょっぴり. | ちょっと待って。 |
ほんのり ほんのり / similar | Used for faint, subtle sensory experiences like smells, tastes, colors, or soft feelings. | ほんのり focuses on faint sensory perception, while ちょっぴり focuses on tiny amounts or slight subjective emotional degrees. | ほんのり甘い。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ちょっぴり with your boss or in formal emails.
Use 少々 (shoushou) or 少し (sukoshi) instead. ちょっぴり is too casual and sounds slightly childish.
Using it to describe large amounts ironically.
It specifically denotes a tiny amount and is rarely used for sarcastic exaggeration.
Examples
Examples
ケーキをちょっぴり食べた。
ケーキ を ちょっぴり たべた。
I ate a tiny bit of the cake.
LiteralUsed to show a very small physical amount.
今日のテストはちょっぴり難しかった。
きょう の テスト は ちょっぴり むずかしかった。
Today's test was a tiny bit difficult.
FigurativeUsed to express the subjective degree of difficulty.
彼女はちょっぴり寂しそうな顔をした。
かのじょ は ちょっぴり さびしそう な かお を した。
She made a slightly lonely face.
VisualDescribes a slight expression visible on someone's face.
スープに塩をちょっぴり足す。
スープ に しお を ちょっぴり たす。
Add a tiny bit of salt to the soup.
LiteralCommonly used in cooking contexts for small measurements.
彼の言葉にちょっぴり傷ついた。
かれ の ことば に ちょっぴり きずついた。
I was a tiny bit hurt by his words.
FigurativeDescribes the abstract degree of emotional pain.
Similar Words
ちょっと
chotto
More common, standard, and neutral for 'a little'.
Questions
What is the difference between ちょっぴり and ちょっと?
ちょっぴり emphasizes a tiny amount and sounds cuter and more emotional, whereas ちょっと is the neutral standard for 'a little'.
Is it okay to use ちょっぴり at work?
It is best avoided in professional settings because it sounds a bit childish. Stick to 少し (sukoshi) or 少々 (shoushou).
Is ちょっぴり mostly used by women?
While it has a soft nuance often favored by women or children, men can also use it in casual settings to soften their expressions.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1007840
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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