ちょっと

Japanese

Alternative spellings
一寸 (uncommon) 鳥渡 (rare)

Alternative forms

• (adverb) ちょいと (choito), ちょい (choi), ちっと (chitto)
• (interjection): (shortening, informal) ちょっ (cho'), ちょ (cho)

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).

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 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?