adverbial N2 common writtenpolite
わずかに — slightly
わずかに
Meaning
- slightly / by a narrow margin / just barely — a very small degree or amount
Emphasises how small the degree is; often a narrow margin (わずかに届かない 'falls just short'). More formal than 少し / ちょっと.
Key sentence
気温がわずかに上がった。
The temperature rose slightly.
Usage
Formal/written-leaning; in speech 少し / ちょっと are more common for 'a little'.
Examples
彼はわずかに首をかしげた。
He tilted his head ever so slightly.
わずかに残った時間で準備した。
I got ready in the little time that remained.
When you can't use it
- Stresses a tiny degree; the base わずか is a noun / な-adj meaning 'only a mere ~'.
Easily confused with
See わずかに in real sentences
Jengo shows わずかに the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.