How to Say ‘Just a little more and’ in Japanese
あと少しで
ato sukoshi de
[ah-toh soo-koh-shee deh]
💬 Usage Tip: [あと少しで] means 'with just a little more...' and sets up an almost-happened result. It is perfect for near misses in soccer.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This phrase is useful far beyond sports too, for exams, trains, and daily life. Japanese speakers love it because it captures frustration so neatly.
Phrase Breakdown
あと
ato
[ah-toh]
just a little more; almost
Means only a small amount remained before something happened.
あと少しで入った。
It almost went in.
少し
sukoshi
[soo-koh-shee]
a little; a bit
Means a small amount; with あと, it becomes 'just a little more'.
あと少しでゴールだった。
It was just a little more and it would have been a goal.
で
de
[deh]
with; by; at
Here it helps form the set phrase あと少しで, meaning 'with just a little more' or 'almost'.
あと少しで勝てた。
We almost won.
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