不大不小 (bú dà bù xiǎo) — just the right size or age; neither too big nor too small, neither too young nor too old

Definition

An idiom meaning 'just the right size or amount' — not too big, not too small, perfect for the situation. Often used to describe clothes fitting well, a suitable amount, or the right age for something.

idiom
just the right size or ageneither too big nor too smallneither too young nor too old

Examples

  • 不大不小，。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu wǒ chuān bú dà bù xiǎo, zhèng hé shì.
    This piece of clothing fits me perfectly, just the right size.
  • 不大不小，。
    Tā bú dà bù xiǎo de nián jì, zuò zhè ge gōng zuò hěn hǎo.
    He's just the right age for this job.
  • 不大不小，。
    Zhè xiē cài bú dà bù xiǎo, wǒ men liǎ zhèng hǎo chī wán.
    This amount of food is just right; we two can finish it just fine.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

不大not big
不bùnot大dàbig
偏正Modifier + head
不小not small
不bùnot小xiǎosmall
偏正Modifier + head

不 'not' + 大 'big' and 不 'not' + 小 'small' together mean neither big nor small, just right.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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 →

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