Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 8: 3/22

たったのOnly, Just, No more than

Structure

たった + （の）+ Number

Details

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About たった(の)

たった is a common adverb in Japanese that originates from an emphasized alteration of 唯(ただ) 'only', 'merely'. たった keeps the same meaning of ただ in that it just expresses that something is 'only (A)', 'just (A)', or 'no more than (A)'.

This nuance is usually used when the actual number of (A) is exceptionally low compared to the speaker's expectation of anticipation. たった will often appear at the beginning of sentences, and will either modify the whole sentence, or a specific number when followed by の and then that number.

  • カップ麺(めん)はたった３(さん)分(ぷん)で出来上(できあ)がる。

    Cup noodles can be prepared in just 3 minutes.

    • 僕(ぼく)、たった一人(ひとり)でここまで歩(ある)いてきたのかい？偉(えら)いね！

      Kid, you walked here all alone? I'm proud of you!

      • クラスメイト全員(ぜんいん)を招待(しょうたい)したのに、たったの３人(さんにん)しか僕(ぼく)の誕生日(たんじょうび)パーティーにこなかった。

        I invited everyone in my class, but only 3 people showed up to my birthday party.

        • このホテルからビーチまでの距離(きょり)はたったの１０(じゅう)メートルです！

          It's merely 10 meters in distance from this hotel to the beach!

          As たった is an adverb that is usually used for emphasis, it often accompanies other similar grammar patterns like だけ, しか, etc.

          Fun-fact

          The common expression ただいま 'now', or 'I'm home' may occasionally be seen in the emphasized form たったいま. This is primarily when the meaning is 'now', or 'just now' (right at this present moment), rather than 'I'm home'.

          • その電車(でんしゃ)はたった今(いま)出発(しゅっぱつ)したので次(つぎ)の電車(でんしゃ)が来(く)るまで少々(しょうしょう)お待(ま)ちください。

            That train has just departed, so please wait until the next train arrives.

            Related

            Examples

            --:--

              「彼(かれ)はたった一人(ひとり)の兄弟(きょうだい)です。」

              'He is my only sibling.'

              友達(ともだち)１(いち)：「１０００(せん)円(えん)貸(か)してくれる？」
              友達(ともだち)２(に)：「たった５００(ごひゃく)円(えん)しかないよ。」

              Friend 1: 'Can you lend me 1000 yen?'
              Friend 2: 'I only have 500 on me.'

              そうまさん：「ケーキ、出来(でき)ました。」
              えりなさん：「え、たった５(ご)分(ふん)で出来(でき)たの？！」

              Souma: 'The cake is done.'
              Erina: 'Wha?! You finished it just in 5 minutes?!'

              自分(じぶん)の子供(こども)について、母親(ははおや)：「ケビンはずっと、たったひとりで家(いえ)にいた！！」

              Mother, about her son: 'Kevin was at home all alone the whole time!'

              市場(いちば)の商人(しょうにん)：「安(やす)いよ、安(やす)いよ、りっぱな高級(こうきゅう)時計(どけい)がたった千(せん)円(えん)。」

              Merchant on the market: 'Cheap! Cheap! Amazing, high-quality watches only 1000 yen.'

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                たった(の) – Grammar Discussion

                Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

                • FredKore

                  FredKore

                  Maybe you can think of it as:
                  彼は – As for me, As for my situation
                  たった一人の兄弟です – it is just a one-brother [situation]

                  Just like when you answer あなたの家族は？
                  You could answer: お父さん、お母さん、弟です。
                  In other words, how you define “your family”.
                  (You could say that the translation is not the best, but it’s using more natural English than “My ‘brothers’ is defined by just one brother”.)

                  My feeling is when you use いる you’re describing something more immediate, like “they are here right now in the other room” (not entirely sure though).

                • rikvg

                  rikvg

                  Duh. Watashi wa ringo desu.
                  I’ve known this since day four of studying Japanese.
                  But I somehow forgot along the way.

                  Thanks for explaining so patiently you guys.

                • mrnoone

                  mrnoone

                  @rikvg @FredKore @nekoyama
                  Hey guys!

                  I changed the translation to “He is my only sibling(brother)”.
                  I feel its closer to the original intention.

                  Cheers

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