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微小 (wēi xiǎo) — extremely small, minute, infinitesimal

Definition

Used for changes, details, or differences that are too small to easily notice — stronger than 细微 ('subtle') and 渺小 ('insignificant' in a moral sense). Pairs with abstract things, not physical size (use 小型 for objects).

adjective
extremely smallminuteinfinitesimal

Examples

  • 微小。
    Yí gè wēi xiǎo de biàn huà kě néng huì yǐng xiǎng zhěng gè jié guǒ.
    A tiny change can affect the entire result.
  • 微小。
    Shè jì zhōng de wēi xiǎo xì jié xū yào tè bié zhù yì.
    The minute details in the design require special attention.
  • 微小。
    Wǒ men bù néng hū shì rèn hé wēi xiǎo de kě néng xìng.
    We cannot ignore any tiny possibility.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

微wēitiny
小xiǎosmall

Both 微 and 小 point to very small size, giving the sense of minute.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Size & Dimension

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