Definition
小脚 refers both to the historical practice of foot binding in China, where women's feet were tightly bound to keep them small, and to a timid, conservative person (usually a man) by metaphor. The literal meaning is culturally loaded — foot binding was a painful custom that lasted centuries. The metaphorical use describes someone who is overly cautious or stuck in old ways.
n.
bound feet (the practice of foot binding in old China)(metaphor) a timid and conservative person (typically a man)
Examples
- 小脚。Tā de nǎinai céngjīng guǒ guò xiǎo jiǎ.Her grandmother once had bound feet.
- 小脚，。Tā shì ge xiǎo jiǎ, shénme xīn shìwù dōu bù gǎn chángshì.He's a timid man and doesn't dare try anything new.
- 小脚，！Bié nàme xiǎo jiǎ, gēn shàng shídài ba!Don't be so conservative — keep up with the times!
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