a bit

少し

何かを少しだけ、または短い間すること。

やさしい英語で： To do something by a small amount or for a short time.

• Move a bit to the left.
• We waited a bit before leaving.
• Could you turn the music down a bit?

類義語： a little, slightly

反対語： a lot

よく使う表現： wait a bit, move a bit, a bit more, a bit tired

少し

すでに話題に出たものの、少しの量。

やさしい英語で： A small amount of something already mentioned.

• Would you like some cake? I’ll have a bit.
• She saved a bit for her brother.
• There was only a bit left after lunch.

類義語： a little, a small amount

反対語： a lot

よく使う表現： just a bit, save a bit, take a bit

かなり、たくさん

多い量を、冗談や控えめな言い方で少ないように表すこと。

やさしい英語で： A large amount, described as small to make a joke or avoid saying how much.

• Did you make a mess? Just a bit—the kitchen was covered in flour.
• Was there much damage? A bit—the entire roof collapsed.
• Did he spend much? Just a bit—he bought the whole hotel.

類義語： a lot, a great deal

反対語： a little

よく使う表現： just a bit, quite a bit

少し

あるものの少ない量。

やさしい英語で： A small amount of something.

• I need a bit of help.
• She added a bit of cheese to the soup.
• Could you lend me a bit of money?

使い方： a bit of + noun (Add a bit of milk to the sauce.)

類義語： a little, a small amount

反対語： a lot

よく使う表現： a bit of something, a bit of luck, a bit of sugar

少し、やや

程度や強さが少しだけであること。

やさしい英語で： To a small degree.

• The room is a bit warm.
• I felt a bit nervous before the interview.
• Could you speak a bit more slowly?

使い方： a bit + adjective/adverb (We arrived a bit late.)

類義語： slightly, a little

よく使う表現： a bit cold, a bit late, a bit worried