ちょっと
Japanese
Alternative spellings |
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一寸 (uncommon) 鳥渡 (rare) チョット チョッと |
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).[1][2]
Pronunciation
- (Tokyo) ちょっと [chóꜜttò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
- (Tokyo) ちょっと [chòttó] (Heiban – [0])[2]
- IPA(key): [t͡ɕo̞t̚to̞]
Adverb
ちょっと or チョット or チョッと • (chotto)
- slightly, a little, a bit, somewhat
- an indirect expression of refusal
- 「お茶とか飲みましょう。」「ちょっと……」
- “Ocha toka nomimashō.”“chotto……”
- "Let's go have tea or something." "I don't know about that..."
- 「お茶とか飲みましょう。」「ちょっと……」
Usage notes
- Used to say that something is inconvenient for one, when invited to do something.
Interjection
ちょっと or チョット or チョッと • (chotto)