ちょっと

Japanese

Alternative spellings
一寸 (uncommon) 鳥渡 (rare) チョット チョッと

Etymology

From ちっと (chitto), itself a geminated emphatic form of ちと (chito), originally composed of ち (chi, “small”, not used in isolation; cognate with the chi in 小さい chīsai) + と (to, adverbial particle).

First attested in 1477.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ちょっと [chóꜜttò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• (Tokyo) ちょっと [chòttó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞t̚to̞]

Adverb

ちょっと • (chotto) 

1. [from 1477] slightly, a little, a bit, somewhat (of a span of time, or an amount or degree)

   Synonyms: 少し (sukoshi), 少々 (shōshō)

   ちょっと待(ま)ってね。

   Chotto matte ne.

   Hold on, OK?

   (literally, “Wait a bit, OK?”)

   ちょっといい？

   Chotto ii?

   Do you have some time? → We need to talk.

2. [from 1771] used to preface and soften a negative expression

   ちょっと無理(むり)ですが……

   Chotto muri desu ga……

   That would not be all that possible...

   (literally, “somewhat impossible”)

3. [date uncertain] (by extension) an indirect expression of refusal: well, umm

   「お茶(ちゃ)とか飲(の)みましょう。」「ちょっと……」

   “Ocha to ka nomimashō.” “Chotto……”

   "Let's go have tea or something." "Well... / I don't know about that..."

   あのさ、頼(たの)まれた事柄(ことがら)ですけど、ちょっと……

   Ano sa, tanomareta kotogara desu kedo, chotto……

   So yeah, that issue you asked me to handle, well...

Usage notes

• Used to say that something is inconvenient for one, when invited or asked to do something.

Derived terms

• (informal) ちょいと (choito), ちょい (choi)

Interjection

ちょっと or チョット or チョッと • (chotto) 

1. hey, excuse me, one moment

   ちょっと、聞(き)いて良(い)いですか。

   Chotto, kiite ii desu ka.

   One moment / Excuse me, may I ask you something?

Derived terms

• (shortening, informal) ちょっ (cho'), ちょ (cho)