控えめ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 控えめ is read as ひかえめ and is a noun and na-adjective for restraint in amount or a reserved, unobtrusive attitude.
• Basic usage: Using salt sparingly appears in 塩を控えめにする, while being reserved in a meeting appears in 会議では控えめだ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Adverbial and predicative forms
  • Use 控えめにする when deliberately limiting an amount and 控えめだ when describing an attitude.
• Difference from 少ない
  • Unlike simply saying that a quantity is small, this word suggests deliberate moderation or an attitude kept from standing out.