ちょっと

Japanese
Alternative spellings
一寸 (uncommon)
鳥渡 (rare)

Alternative forms

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).[1][2]

Pronunciation

Adverb

ちょっと or チョット or チョッと • (chotto) 

  1. slightly, a little, a bit, somewhat
    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?”)
    ちょっと無理(むり)
    chotto muri
    not possible
    (literally, “somewhat impossible”)
    ちょっといい？
    Chotto ii?
    Do you have some time? / We need to talk.
  2. an indirect expression of refusal
    「お茶(ちゃ)とか飲(の)みましょう。」「ちょっと……」
    “Ocha toka nomimashō.”“chotto……”
    "Let's go have tea or something." "well..."

Usage notes
  • Used to say that something is inconvenient for you when being invited to do something.

Interjection

ちょっと or チョット or チョッと • (chotto) 

  1. hey, excuse me
    ちょっと、聞(き)いて良(い)いですか。
    Chotto, kiite ii desu ka.
    Excuse me, may I ask you something?

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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