細々

ほそぼそ

Also written 細細

Meanings

1. Adverb poor (living)
2. barely continuing; just scraping along
3. Prenominal very narrow (as ... とした)

Kanji

• 細 thin. Read as ほそい.

Example sentences

• 細々とだが開発は続いている。
  Development is slow, but ongoing.

Common phrases

• 細々と暮らす
• 細々した (こまごました) sundry

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists