スリム (B1)
English: Slim
カタカナ: スリム
IPA: /slɪm/
Definition
Here is the false-friend trap first: in Japanese, スリム is almost always used to describe a thin, slender body shape in a positive way — 'スリムな体型' means a nice slim figure. Japanese learners expect English 'slim' to work exactly the same way, and for meaning #1 it does. But English 'slim' has three other very important meanings that Japanese learners almost never know, and these create genuine misunderstandings.
Meaning #1 (same as Japanese): thin and attractively slender. 'She has a slim figure.' This is positive and polite — more so than 'thin' or 'skinny.'
Meaning #2 (the big false friend): 'a slim chance' means a very small, unlikely chance — almost no chance at all. It does NOT mean a moderate or reasonable chance. 'There's a slim chance we'll finish on time' means: probably not. This is one of the most important differences because learners sometimes think 'slim chance' sounds more hopeful than it is.
Meaning #3: 'slim down' as a phrasal verb means to lose weight or reduce in size. Companies can also 'slim down' their workforce (reduce staff). 'She has been trying to slim down before summer.'
Meaning #4: 'slim pickings' is an idiom meaning there are very few options or choices available, and none of them are great. 'After the sale, there were slim pickings left on the shelves.'
Also note: in British English, 'slimming' (noun/adjective) means dieting to lose weight. 'She's been on a slimming diet' is natural UK English.
意味: まず「偽の友達（false friend）」の罠から説明します。日本語の「スリム」はほぼ常に細くてスタイルのよい体型を褒める言葉として使われます。英語の "slim" も意味1では同じです。でも英語にはほかに3つの重要な意味があり、日本人学習者がほとんど知らないために誤解が生まれます。
意味1（日本語と同じ）：細くて魅力的なスタイル。'She has a slim figure.'（彼女はスリムな体型をしている）。"thin" や "skinny" より丁寧でポジティブな表現です。
意味2（最大の落とし穴）："a slim chance" はとても小さい、ほぼ見込みのない可能性のことです。「まずまずの可能性」ではありません。"There's a slim chance we'll finish on time" は「たぶん無理」という意味です。
意味3："slim down"（フレーズ動詞）は体重を減らすこと、または規模を縮小すること。企業が人員を削減する場合にも使います。
意味4："slim pickings"（イディオム）は選択肢がほとんどなく、しかも良いものがないという意味。
補足：イギリス英語では "slimming"（名詞・形容詞）がダイエットの意味で使われます。
Examples / 例文
彼女はスリムな体型を維持している。 — She maintains a slim figure.
締め切りに間に合う可能性はほとんどない。 — There's a slim chance we'll make the deadline.
夏に向けて体を絞ろうとしている。 — He's trying to slim down before summer.
スリム in English
English translations of スリム:
See "Slim" in the English dictionary
Browse the full Japanese-English dictionary