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些许 (xiē xǔ) — a little, a few, a bit

Definition

Literary/formal 'a little, a few' — used in writing where spoken Chinese would prefer 一点儿 or 一些. Modify only abstract things (progress, comfort, doubt), not concrete quantities.

adjective
a littlea fewa bit

Examples

  • 些许。
    Bēi zi lǐ hái yǒu xiē xǔ shuǐ.
    There is still a little water in the cup.
  • ，些许。
    Jīng guò nǔ lì, tā de chéng jì yǒu le xiē xǔ jìn bù.
    After hard work, his grades have made a little progress.
  • 些许。
    Tā lù chū le xiē xǔ wēi xiào.
    She showed a faint smile.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

些xiēsome
许xǔa little

些 “some” and 许 “a little” are parallel, together meaning a small amount.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 些 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 許; 许 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ許xǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 許 pairs 言, meaning speech or words, with 午 for its sound; 许 is a simplified form.

Open 许 →
Appears in
Quantity & Amount

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