Translation guide
Expresses a small difference, slim victory, or barely meeting a threshold. Japanese uses various nouns, adverbs, and set phrases depending on whether the margin is in a competition, measurement, or abstract situation.
Describing a win or loss by a very small amount, often in sports or contests.
A noun meaning 'narrow margin' or 'close difference', commonly used in competitive contexts. Often paired with で.
僅差で勝った。
We won by a narrow margin.
試合は僅差で負けた。
We lost the game by a slim margin.
A noun meaning 'narrow victory' or 'hard-fought win'. More formal and often used in news reports.
チームは辛勝した。
The team won by a narrow margin.
A noun meaning 'narrow defeat' or 'regrettable loss'. Used when the loss was close and disappointing.
決勝で惜敗した。
We suffered a narrow defeat in the finals.
Literally 'victory on thin ice', a dramatic expression for a very narrow win.
それは薄氷の勝利だった。
It was a victory by the narrowest of margins.
Expressing that something just barely passed a limit, such as time, quantity, or qualification.
An adverb meaning 'barely' or 'just barely'. Very common in daily speech for time, space, or limits.
電車にぎりぎり間に合った。
I barely caught the train.
予算ぎりぎりで旅行した。
We traveled on a shoestring budget.
An adverb meaning 'barely' or 'narrowly', often used in slightly more formal or written contexts.
A suffix-like noun meaning 'barely' or 'just above/below', often attached to nouns indicating a limit.
Describing a tiny gap in numbers, measurements, or abstract qualities.
A common phrase meaning 'slight difference' or 'narrow margin'. わずか means 'slight' or 'few'.
わずかな差で負けた。
I lost by a narrow margin.
Literally 'one sheet of paper', meaning a very fine distinction or hair's breadth difference.
成功と失敗は紙一重だ。
Success and failure are separated by a narrow margin.
A formal noun meaning 'slight difference', used in technical or statistical contexts.
両者の得点は微差だった。
The scores of the two were separated by a narrow margin.
Both mean 'barely', but ぎりぎり is more colloquial and often used for physical limits (time, space). かろうじて is slightly more formal and can be used for abstract achievements.
ぎりぎりセーフ！
Just barely safe!
かろうじて命は助かった。
He narrowly escaped with his life.
かろうじて合格した。
I passed by a narrow margin.
締め切りすれすれに提出した。
I submitted it just before the deadline.