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Word 1491 of 2252

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やや

a little, partially, somewhat, a short time, a while

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 今日はやや寒いです。

    きょうはややさむいです。

    It is somewhat cold today.

  2. 兄は私よりやや背が高い。

    あにはわたしよりややせがたかい。

    My brother is slightly taller than me.

  3. この店は値段がやや高いですが、質がいいので人気があります。

    このみせはねだんがややたかいですが、しつがいいのでにんきがあります。

    This shop's prices are a little high, but the quality is good so it is popular.

Common patterns

やや高い
somewhat expensive / rather high
やや少ない
slightly few
やや遅れる
to be slightly delayed

Memory tip

Written and understated. Weather forecasts, reports and newspapers say やや where speech would say ちょっと or 少し — using it in casual chat sounds a bit stiff.

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