少し働く
a little work
Littéralement: a little (少し) + work (働く)
Use this to describe light work tasks without sounding stressed or overly busy.
En 15 secondes
- Means doing a small task or a short work session.
- Use it for side hustles or quick weekend email checks.
- Neutral formality makes it safe for friends and colleagues.
Signification
This phrase describes doing a small amount of work or working for a short period of time. It is perfect for talking about side hustles, checking emails on your day off, or finishing a quick task before meeting friends.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Explaining weekend plans to a friend
土曜日は少し働くけど、午後は暇だよ。
I'll work a little on Saturday, but I'm free in the afternoon.
Telling a colleague you'll finish a task late
今夜、家で少し働きます。
I will work a little at home tonight.
Texting a partner who asks what you are doing
今、カフェで少し働いてるよ！
I'm working a little at a cafe right now!
Contexte culturel
In Japan, the concept of 'working a little' has shifted from overtime culture to the rise of 'nomad workers' and cafe culture. It reflects a growing desire for work-life balance among younger generations. Interestingly, even on holidays, many Japanese people feel a sense of 'giri' (duty) to do a small amount of work to stay ahead.
The 'Chotto' Swap
In real life, people say `ちょっと働く` (chotto hataraku) way more than `少し`. It sounds more natural and less like a textbook.
Not for Housework
Never use `働く` for cleaning your room or cooking. Japanese distinguishes between 'labor for money' (`働く`) and 'chores' (`家事`).
En 15 secondes
- Means doing a small task or a short work session.
- Use it for side hustles or quick weekend email checks.
- Neutral formality makes it safe for friends and colleagues.
What It Means
少し働く is the casual way to say you are doing some labor. It is not about your 40-hour work week. Think of it as the "snack" version of a workday. It implies the task is manageable and won't take all day. You might use it for a quick freelance gig. Or maybe you are just answering one or two emails. It is a very humble and light expression.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase in many ways. To be polite, just add ます to get 少し働きます. If you are texting a close friend, 少し働く is fine. You can also add the particle だけ to say 少しだけ働く. This means "I am *only* working a little." It helps set expectations with others. It is a very flexible phrase for daily life.
When To Use It
Use this when you are at a cafe with your laptop. It is great for explaining why you are busy on a Saturday. Tell your partner you will 少し働く before dinner starts. It is also useful for describing a part-time job. If you have a small hobby that makes money, this fits. It sounds productive but not overwhelmed. It shows you value your time.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for a serious full-time job interview. It might make you sound like you lack commitment. Avoid it if the work is actually very difficult. That could sound like you are being sarcastic or humble-bragging. Also, do not use 働く for chores like washing dishes. For housework, use the word 家事 instead. Keep 働く for tasks that feel like "employment."
Cultural Background
Japan is famous for its intense work culture and long hours. However, the modern "side-hustle" or fukugyo trend is changing things. Many people now enjoy working "a little" on their own terms. Using this phrase shows a balance between diligence and personal life. It is a soft way to mention work without sounding stressed. Being "a little" busy is often seen as a virtue.
Common Variations
You will often hear ちょっと働く in very casual speech. ちょっと is a bit more natural for spoken Japanese than 少し. If you are in a formal office, you might say 少々業務を行います. That is much stiffer and used for official reports. For a very tiny task, try 一瞬働く which means "working for a moment." These variations help you match the energy of the room.
Notes d'usage
The formality of this phrase is entirely dependent on the verb ending. Use `hataraku` with friends and `hatarakimasu` with people you don't know well. Be careful not to use it when a serious effort is expected.
The 'Chotto' Swap
In real life, people say `ちょっと働く` (chotto hataraku) way more than `少し`. It sounds more natural and less like a textbook.
Not for Housework
Never use `働く` for cleaning your room or cooking. Japanese distinguishes between 'labor for money' (`働く`) and 'chores' (`家事`).
The Humble Brag
Sometimes saying you work 'a little' is a way to show you are diligent without sounding like you are complaining about being busy.
Exemples
6土曜日は少し働くけど、午後は暇だよ。
I'll work a little on Saturday, but I'm free in the afternoon.
Uses 'keredo' to show a contrast between work and free time.
今夜、家で少し働きます。
I will work a little at home tonight.
The 'masu' ending makes this professional and polite.
今、カフェで少し働いてるよ！
I'm working a little at a cafe right now!
The 'te-iru' form indicates an ongoing action.
五分だけ少し働くね。冗談だよ！
I'll work a little for just five minutes. Just kidding!
Adding 'dake' (only) emphasizes the small amount of work.
旅行のために、週末も少し働いています。
I'm working a little on weekends to save for a trip.
Shows a positive motivation for working extra.
放課後に少し働く予定です。
I plan to work a little after school.
Uses 'yotei' to describe a future plan.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to say 'I will work a little tomorrow.'
明日は___働きます。
‘少し’ (sukoshi) means 'a little', which fits the context of doing a small amount of work.
Make the phrase more casual for a friend.
ちょっと___。
The dictionary form ‘働く’ is used in casual conversation with friends.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Working a Little'
Talking to friends or family.
ちょっと働くね。
General daily use.
少し働きます。
Business or reporting to a boss.
少々業務に当たります。
Where to use '少し働く'
At a Cafe
Checking emails over coffee.
On the Weekend
Doing a 2-hour side gig.
Late Night
Finishing a quick report.
Part-time Job
A short shift at a shop.
Questions fréquentes
12 questions少し (sukoshi) means 'a little' or 'a small amount'. It is a versatile adverb used for quantity or time.
働く (hataraku) is the verb 'to work'. 仕事 (shigoto) is the noun 'work' or 'job'.
Yes! If you have a short shift, you can say 今日は少し働きます to mean you are working a bit today.
It is neutral. To be safer, use 少し働きます (sukoshi hatarakimasu) or 少し業務をいたします in very formal settings.
You would say 少し働いた (sukoshi hataraita) for casual or 少し働きました (sukoshi hatarakimashita) for polite speech.
Yes, ちょっと働く is very common and sounds even more natural in casual conversation.
Not at all. It usually implies you are being productive even in your free time or doing a manageable amount of work.
Technically no. For studying, use 少し勉強する (sukoshi benkyo suru). 働く is specifically for labor or professional tasks.
You can say 少しだけ働く (sukoshi dake hataraku) to emphasize that it is a very tiny amount of time.
There isn't a specific slang word, but people might say サクッと働く (sakutto hataraku) to mean 'working quickly and efficiently'.
It implies the action of working. If you want to focus on the money, use 少し稼ぐ (sukoshi kasegu).
You can ask 今日は少し働きますか？ (Kyou wa sukoshi hatarakimasu ka?).
Expressions liées
アルバイトをする (to do a part-time job)
残業する (to work overtime)
手伝う (to help/assist)
稼ぐ (to earn money)
副業 (side hustle)
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