Definition
幼小 is a literary, attributive adjective used to describe living things (children, animals, plants) that are young and small — physically in an early, tender stage of development. Unlike the English gloss 'immature', 幼小 does not describe childish or irresponsible behavior (use 幼稚 for that). It commonly appears in set phrases like 幼小的心灵 ('a tender/young heart/mind'). You cannot use it predicatively (e.g., '这个孩子很幼小' sounds off); it always precedes a noun.
attr.
young and small (of children, animals, plants)tender (of mind, heart, stage of development)
Examples
- 幼小。Zhèxiē yòu xiǎo de yòumiáo xūyào jīngxīn zhàogù.These young seedlings need careful tending.
- 幼小,。Bǎohù yòu xiǎo de xīnlíng, shì měi ge dàrén de zérèn.Protecting tender young hearts is every adult's responsibility.
- 幼小。Tā huíyì qǐ zìjǐ yòu xiǎo de shíhou.She recalled her own young and small days.
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