A bit, slightly: hơi + adjective

Hơi before an adjective means "a bit" or "slightly": hơi cay (a bit spicy), hơi xa (a bit far). It also goes before words for feelings: hơi mệt (a bit tired), hơi lo (a bit worried).

It's most often used when something is a little too much or not quite right, which makes it the gentle way to complain: Áo này hơi mắc. This shirt is a bit expensive (in Hà Nội, hơi đắt). Choosing hơi over quá keeps a complaint polite. Một chút at the end softens it further: Canh hơi mặn một chút.

For praise, use khá (quite): khá ngon rather than hơi ngon. Young people do put hơi bị before a good word as slang for "really": hơi bị đẹp, really good-looking.

Hơi goes before adjectives and words for states or feelings, like mệt, lo or giống (alike), not before action verbs. For a small amount, or doing something a little, use một chút or một ít after the verb: ăn một chút, eat a little.