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微小 (wēi xiǎo) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 6

微小 (wēi xiǎo) is a Chinese word: tiny. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 微小

形 xíng adjective

tiny

即使是微小的进步也值得庆祝。

jí shǐ shì wēi xiǎo de jìn bù yě zhí dé qìng zhù

Even tiny progress is worth celebrating.

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Word breakdown

微 wēi — minute, extremely small

Words with this character (16)
Show more (+11)
  • 6 微妙 wēi miào — subtle HSK 7
    • 微 minute, tiny, subtle
    • 妙 wonderful, ingenious, delicate
    Example

    他们之间的关系很微妙。

    tā men zhī jiān de guān xì hěn wēi miào

    The relationship between them is very subtle.

  • 7 微弱 wēi ruò — faint, weak HSK 7
    • 微 minute, slight, minimal degree
    • 弱 weak, lacking strength
    Example

    病人的呼吸变得越来越微弱。

    bìng rén de hū xī biàn de yuè lái yuè wēi ruò

    The patient's breathing became weaker and weaker.

  • 8 微微 wēi wēi — slightly HSK 7
    • 微 slight, tiny (first instance of reduplication)
    • 微 slight, tiny (repeated for emphasis and adverbial effect)
    Example

    她微微一笑，没有说话。

    tā wēi wēi yī xiào méi yǒu shuō huà

    She smiled slightly and said nothing.

  • 9 微波炉 wēi bō lú — microwave oven HSK 7
    • 微 micro, tiny (referring to microscopic electromagnetic waves)
    • 波 wave (electromagnetic waves used for heating)
    • 炉 oven, stove (a heating appliance)
    Example

    我用微波炉加热午餐。

    wǒ yòng wēi bō lú jiā rè wǔ cān

    I use the microwave oven to heat up lunch.

  • 10 微生物 wēi shēng wù — microorganism HSK 7
    • 微 tiny, minute, micro-
    • 生 life, living
    • 物 thing, organism, matter
    Example

    科学家正在研究海洋中的微生物。

    kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū hǎi yáng zhōng de wēi shēng wù

    Scientists are studying microorganisms in the ocean.

  • 11 微观 wēi guān — microscopic HSK 7
    • 微 micro, minute, tiny - indicates small scale
    • 观 observe, view, perspective - indicates observation or viewpoint
    Example

    我们需要从微观角度分析这个问题。

    wǒ men xū yào cóng wēi guān jiǎo dù fēn xī zhè ge wèn tí

    We need to analyze this problem from a microscopic perspective.

  • 12 无微不至 wú wēi bù zhì — extremely attentive and considerate; meticulous in every detail HSK 7
    • 无 no, without; negates the phrase that follows
    • 微 tiny, minute; refers to the smallest details
    • 不 not; negative particle
    • 至 reach, arrive at; indicates that attention extends to all details
    Example

    母亲对孩子的照顾总是无微不至。

    mǔ qīn duì hái zi de zhào gu zǒng shì wú wēi bù zhì

    A mother's care for her children is always meticulous in every detail.

  • 13 显微镜 xiǎn wēi jìng — microscope HSK 7
    • 显 to reveal, to make visible
    • 微 microscopic, tiny, minute
    • 镜 lens, optical instrument
    Example

    我们用显微镜观察细胞。

    wǒ men yòng xiǎn wēi jìng guān chá xì bāo

    We use a microscope to observe cells.

  • 14 略微 lüè wēi — slightly HSK 7
    • 略 roughly, approximately (indicating a small degree)
    • 微 tiny, minute (emphasizing the smallness)
    Example

    天气略微有点冷。

    tiān qì lüè wēi yǒu diǎn lěng

    The weather is slightly cold.

  • 15 细微 xì wēi — minute, subtle, tiny HSK 7
    • 细 fine, detailed, small in scale
    • 微 tiny, minute, slight
    Example

    这些细微的变化很难被察觉。

    zhè xiē xì wēi de biàn huà hěn nán bèi chá jué

    These minute changes are difficult to detect.

  • 16 轻微 qīng wēi — slight HSK 7
    • 轻 light, not heavy; contributes the sense of 'minor' or 'not serious'
    • 微 tiny, minute; contributes the sense of 'minimal' or 'barely noticeable'
    Example

    他只是轻微感冒，休息一下就好了。

    tā zhǐ shì qīng wēi gǎn mào xiū xi yī xià jiù hǎo le

    He just has a slight cold, he'll be fine after some rest.

小 xiǎo — small, little

Words with this character (37)
Show more (+32)
  • 6 小孩儿 xiǎo hái r — child, kid HSK 2
    • 小 small, little
    • 孩 child
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (erhua)
    Example

    这个小孩儿很可爱。

    zhè ge xiǎo hái r hěn kě ài

    This child is very cute.

  • 7 小时候 xiǎo shí hòu — childhood; when (one was) young HSK 2
    • 小 young, little (referring to age)
    • 时 time
    • 候 period, moment (forms 时候 meaning 'time, period')
    Example

    我小时候很喜欢画画。

    wǒ xiǎo shí hòu hěn xǐ huan huà huà

    I really liked drawing when I was young.

  • 8 大小 dà xiǎo — size HSK 3
    • 大 big, large (representing the larger end of the size spectrum)
    • 小 small, little (representing the smaller end of the size spectrum)
    Example

    这件衣服的大小正合适。

    zhè jiàn yī fu de dà xiǎo zhèng hé shì

    The size of this clothing is just right.

  • 9 小区 xiǎo qū — residential community HSK 3
    • 小 small, indicating a subdivision or local area
    • 区 district or area, indicating a defined zone
    Example

    我住在一个很安静的小区里。

    wǒ zhù zài yí ge hěn ān jìng de xiǎo qū lǐ

    I live in a very quiet residential community.

  • 10 小心 xiǎo xīn — be careful HSK 3
    • 小 small, indicating carefulness or restraint
    • 心 heart/mind, indicating mental attention
    Example

    小心地板很滑。

    xiǎo xīn dì bǎn hěn huá

    Be careful, the floor is very slippery.

  • 11 小伙子 xiǎo huǒ zi — young man HSK 4
    • 小 young, little
    • 伙 fellow, guy
    • 子 nominal suffix (person)
    Example

    小伙子，你来自哪里？

    xiǎo huǒ zi nǐ lái zì nǎ lǐ

    Young man, where are you from?

  • 12 小吃 xiǎo chī — snack, street food HSK 4
    • 小 small (referring to small portions or modest servings)
    • 吃 eat, food (referring to things to eat)
    Example

    我喜欢吃台湾小吃。

    wǒ xǐ huan chī tái wān xiǎo chī

    I like to eat Taiwanese snacks.

  • 13 小组 xiǎo zǔ — group HSK 4
    • 小 small (indicating a small-scale group)
    • 组 group, team (the core meaning of organized collection)
    Example

    我们分成了三个小组。

    wǒ men fēn chéng le sān gè xiǎo zǔ

    We divided into three groups.

  • 14 小说 xiǎo shuō — novel HSK 4
    • 小 small, minor (referring to lighter narrative stories)
    • 说 to speak, to tell (referring to narrative or story)
    Example

    她正在写一部小说。

    tā zhèng zài xiě yī bù xiǎo shuō

    She is writing a novel.

  • 15 小于 xiǎo yú — less than HSK 5
    • 小 small, little; indicates the lesser quantity in comparison
    • 于 than; a comparative particle connecting the comparison
    Example

    这个数小于一百。

    zhè ge shù xiǎo yú yì bǎi

    This number is less than one hundred.

  • 16 小型 xiǎo xíng — small-sized HSK 5
    • 小 small (indicates size)
    • 型 type/model (indicates category or form)
    Example

    这是一辆小型汽车。

    zhè shì yī liàng xiǎo xíng qì chē

    This is a small-sized car.

  • 17 小姐 xiǎo jiě — Miss; young lady HSK 5
    • 小 young; little
    • 姐 elder sister; lady
    Example

    小姐，请问您需要什么？

    xiǎo jiě qǐng wèn nín xū yào shén me

    Miss, what would you like?

  • 18 缩小 suō xiǎo — to reduce, to shrink HSK 5
    • 缩 to shrink, to contract
    • 小 small, smaller
    Example

    这个差距正在逐渐缩小。

    zhè ge chā jù zhèng zài zhú jiàn suō xiǎo

    This gap is gradually narrowing.

  • 19 胆小 dǎn xiǎo — timid, cowardly HSK 5
    • 胆 courage, bravery (literally gallbladder)
    • 小 small, little (indicating lack of courage)
    Example

    他很胆小，不敢一个人走夜路。

    tā hěn dǎn xiǎo bù gǎn yí gè rén zǒu yè lù

    He is very timid and doesn't dare walk alone at night.

  • 20 小偷儿 xiǎo tōu r — thief HSK 6
    • 小 small, petty (adds colloquial tone)
    • 偷 steal, thief (core meaning)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (Beijing dialect flavor)
    Example

    小偷儿偷走了我的钱包。

    xiǎo tōu r tōu zǒu le wǒ de qián bāo

    The thief stole my wallet.

  • 21 小气 xiǎo qi — stingy HSK 6
    • 小 small, petty
    • 气 disposition, temperament
    Example

    他很小气，从不请朋友吃饭。

    tā hěn xiǎo qi cóng bù qǐng péng you chī fàn

    He's very stingy, never treats friends to meals.

  • 22 小麦 xiǎo mài — wheat HSK 6
    • 小 small (distinguishing wheat from other grains)
    • 麦 wheat/grain (the base cereal crop)
    Example

    农民正在收割小麦。

    nóng mín zhèng zài shōu gē xiǎo mài

    The farmers are harvesting wheat.

  • 23 大同小异 dà tóng xiǎo yì — largely similar with minor differences HSK 7
    • 大 major, large (referring to major similarities)
    • 同 same, similar (the similarities/commonalities)
    • 小 small, minor (referring to minor differences)
    • 异 different, dissimilar (the differences/variations)
    Example

    这两个方案大同小异，没有本质区别。

    zhè liǎng gè fāng àn dà tóng xiǎo yì méi yǒu běn zhì qū bié

    These two proposals are largely similar with minor differences; there is no essential distinction.

  • 24 大惊小怪 dà jīng xiǎo guài — to make a fuss about nothing, to overreact HSK 7
    • 大 big, great (emphasizing excessive reaction)
    • 惊 alarm, startle (the overblown emotional response)
    • 小 small, little (indicating the trivial nature of the cause)
    • 怪 strange, odd (the unusual occurrence that shouldn't warrant alarm)
    Example

    他只是迟到了五分钟，你不要大惊小怪。

    tā zhǐ shì chí dào le wǔ fēn zhōng nǐ bú yào dà jīng xiǎo guài

    He's only five minutes late, don't make a fuss about it.

  • 25 大街小巷 dà jiē xiǎo xiàng — streets and alleys HSK 7
    • 大 big, large (referring to main streets)
    • 街 street (main thoroughfare)
    • 小 small, little (referring to narrow alleys)
    • 巷 alley, lane (narrow pathway)
    Example

    节日期间，大街小巷都挂满了灯笼。

    jié rì qī jiān dà jiē xiǎo xiàng dōu guà mǎn le dēng lóng

    During the festival, lanterns were hung all over the streets and alleys.

  • 26 小丑 xiǎo chǒu — clown HSK 7
    • 小 small; minor (forms compound with 丑 to mean 'clown')
    • 丑 clown role (from traditional Chinese opera); ugly; comedic character
    Example

    马戏团的小丑表演很有趣。

    mǎ xì tuán de xiǎo chǒu biǎo yǎn hěn yǒu qù

    The circus clown's performance is very interesting.

  • 27 小人 xiǎo rén — villain; petty person HSK 7
    • 小 small; petty (connotes base or mean-spirited)
    • 人 person; human (indicates a type of person)
    Example

    他是个小人，总是背后说人坏话。

    tā shì gè xiǎo rén zǒng shì bèi hòu shuō rén huài huà

    He is a villain who always gossips behind people's backs.

  • 28 小品 xiǎo pǐn — skit, comic sketch HSK 7
    • 小 small, short (indicating brief duration)
    • 品 piece, work (artistic or performance piece)
    Example

    他们在春节晚会上表演了一个小品。

    tā men zài chūn jié wǎn huì shàng biǎo yǎn le yí ge xiǎo pǐn

    They performed a skit at the Spring Festival Gala.

  • 29 小康 xiǎo kāng — moderately prosperous HSK 7
    • 小 small, modest - indicates moderate level
    • 康 prosperity, well-being - indicates comfortable living
    Example

    他们家已经过上了小康生活。

    tā men jiā yǐ jīng guò shàng le xiǎo kāng shēng huó

    Their family has already achieved a moderately prosperous life.

  • 30 小心翼翼 xiǎo xīn yì yì — cautiously; very carefully HSK 7
    • 小 small; forms 'careful' with 心
    • 心 heart/mind; forms 'careful' with 小
    • 翼 wing; symbolizes protective carefulness
    • 翼 wing (repeated); emphasizes extreme carefulness
    Example

    妈妈小心翼翼地抱着刚出生的宝宝。

    mā ma xiǎo xīn yì yì de bào zhe gāng chū shēng de bǎo bao

    Mother carefully held the newborn baby.

  • 31 小提琴 xiǎo tí qín — violin HSK 7
    • 小 small (indicating smaller size compared to other string instruments)
    • 提 to lift/hold up (describing how the instrument is held while playing)
    • 琴 stringed instrument (general category of musical instrument)
    Example

    我妹妹正在拉小提琴。

    wǒ mèi mei zhèng zài lā xiǎo tí qín

    My younger sister is playing the violin.

  • 32 小看 xiǎo kàn — underestimate HSK 7
    • 小 small, insignificant (viewing as lesser)
    • 看 to view, to regard (the act of perceiving)
    Example

    不要小看他，他很有能力。

    bú yào xiǎo kàn tā tā hěn yǒu néng lì

    Don't underestimate him, he's very capable.

  • 33 小菜一碟 xiǎo cài yì dié — a piece of cake HSK 7
    Example

    这对他来说是小菜一碟。

    zhè duì tā lái shuō shì xiǎo cài yì dié

    This is a piece of cake for him.

  • 34 小费 xiǎo fèi — tip HSK 7
    • 小 small, little (indicating a small amount)
    • 费 fee, expense (money paid)
    Example

    在美国，给服务员小费是很常见的。

    zài měi guó gěi fú wù yuán xiǎo fèi shì hěn cháng jiàn de

    In America, giving tips to servers is very common.

  • 35 渺小 miǎo xiǎo — insignificant HSK 7
    • 渺 distant, remote, negligible
    • 小 small
    Example

    在宇宙中，人类显得渺小。

    zài yǔ zhōu zhōng rén lèi xiǎn de miǎo xiǎo

    In the universe, humanity appears insignificant.

  • 36 狭小 xiá xiǎo — narrow HSK 7
    • 狭 narrow, confined
    • 小 small
    Example

    他住在一个狭小的公寓里。

    tā zhù zài yí ge xiá xiǎo de gōng yù lǐ

    He lives in a cramped apartment.

  • 37 胆小鬼 dǎn xiǎo guǐ — coward HSK 7
    • 胆 courage, guts
    • 小 small, little
    • 鬼 person, fellow (colloquial, slightly derogatory)
    Example

    你这个胆小鬼，连老鼠都怕。

    nǐ zhè ge dǎn xiǎo guǐ lián lǎo shǔ dōu pà

    You coward, you're even afraid of mice.

Structure & writing
1 微 wēi — tiny; slight

微 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 彳 chì — step/walk radical, representing slow or hesitant walking
彳 is a component in 20 characters
HSK 1
很 hěn very; quite 得 dé to get; to obtain (opposite of 失)
HSK 3
行 xíng to walk; to go
HSK 4
待 dài to wait; to await 律 lǜ law; rule 微 wēi tiny; slight
HSK 5
彻 chè to penetrate, to pass through 彼 bǐ that; that one (opposite of 此) 征 zhēng to travel a long distance (often of troops on campaign)
HSK 6
径 jìng narrow path; footpath 徒 tú to go on foot (without vehicle or horse) 循 xún to follow; to comply with; to adhere to 德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct
HSK 7
役 yì labor service; corvée 徊 huái see 徘徊: ①pace back and forth; ②hesitate, be irresolute; ③fluctuate within a range 徐 xú (lit.) slowly; gently 徘 pái used in 徘徊: ① pace back and forth; ② hesitate, be undecided; ③ fluctuate within a range 徙 xǐ to migrate; to move (residence)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
御 yù to drive or control (a carriage or horse) 徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia
1.2 山 shān — mountain; hill
山 is a component in 33 characters
HSK 1
岁 suì year
HSK 4
密 mì dense; closely spaced (opposite of sparse) 幽 yōu (lit.) deep and secluded; (of a place) remote, quiet, and dimly lit 微 wēi tiny; slight
HSK 6
岗 gǎng raised mound or slope of earth 岛 dǎo island (land surrounded by water on all sides); peninsula (land surrounded by water on three sides) 岸 àn shore; bank; coast (of a river, lake, sea, etc.) 峰 fēng high, pointed mountain peak 崇 chóng tall; lofty
Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)
崭 zhǎn (lit.) towering; standing out above the rest
HSK 7
仙 xiān immortal; a person with supernatural abilities in mythology 屹 yì (lit.) towering and firm, immovable 屿 yǔ small island 岂 qǐ rhetorical question marker, equivalent to 'how could' or 'is it possible that' 岔 chà branch (of a mountain range, river, road, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+18)
岖 qū used in '崎岖': ① (of mountain paths) rugged and uneven; ② (fig.) full of hardships and twists 岩 yán steep cliff 岭 lǐng mountain with a path over its summit 岳 yuè a tall, majestic mountain 峙 zhì (lit.) to stand tall; to stand erect 峡 xiá gorge; narrow waterway between two mountains (often used in place names) 峭 qiào steep and tall (of a mountain) 峻 jùn high and steep (of a mountain) 崎 qí (lit.) steep and uneven; rugged 崖 yá steep face of a cliff or rocky height 崛 jué (lit.) to rise up; to emerge powerfully 崩 bēng to collapse; to crumble 嵌 qiàn to inlay; to embed a smaller piece into a recess of a larger object (often decorative) 巅 diān mountain peak; summit 徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 灿 càn bright; radiant; dazzling 炭 tàn charcoal, a fuel made by heating wood while cut off from air 癌 ái cancer; malignant tumor formed by abnormally proliferating cells
1.3 兀 wù — towering and prominent
兀 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 1
元 yuán the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), founded by Kublai Khan 西 xī west (one of the four cardinal directions, the side where the sun sets; opposite of '东')
HSK 4
光 guāng light (visible or invisible radiation such as sunlight, lamplight, moonlight, infrared or ultraviolet rays); also called 光波 or 光线 微 wēi tiny; slight
1.4 攵 pū — light strike/tap radical
攵 is a component in 28 characters
HSK 2
教 jiào to teach; to educate
HSK 3
收 shōu bring in; gather together 放 fàng to release; to set free 故 gù reason; cause 数 shù number; quantity
HSK 4
微 wēi tiny; slight 改 gǎi to revise; to modify 效 xiào effect, function, result 败 bài to lose (a war or competition, opposite of 胜)
HSK 5
政 zhèng politics; affairs of state 敌 dí hostile; antagonistic 敏 mǐn intelligent, quick-witted, agile 救 jiù to help someone out of difficulty, danger, or disaster 敬 jìng to respect, to treat with courtesy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
玫 méi (lit.) a type of beautiful stone or jade 致 zhì to give; to express (courtesy, goodwill, etc.) to someone
HSK 6
撤 chè to remove; to cancel 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend'
HSK 7
徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 敛 liǎn (lit.) to draw in; to hold back 敞 chǎng (of buildings, courtyards, etc.) spacious and open; unobstructed 敦 dūn to urge; to encourage 敷 fū to apply (ointment, powder, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
枚 méi a counter for small objects (similar to 个), one by one 澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 牧 mù to herd (livestock or poultry) outdoors to graze or roam 肇 zhào (class.) to begin; to start 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel

Stroke order

2 小 xiǎo — small; little (opposite of 大)
小 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 1
少 shǎo few; little (opposite of 多)
HSK 3
叔 shū father's younger brother; also a form of address for a man of the same generation as one's father but younger and unrelated (can be reduplicated)
HSK 4
京 jīng capital city of a country 亲 qīn related by blood or marriage; esp. parents 孙 sūn grandchild; relatives of the grandchild's generation 尔 ěr (lit.) you (second-person pronoun) 戚 qi
HSK 6
尖 jiān tip or pointed end of an object 尘 chén dust, flying dirt
HSK 7
隙 xì crack; crevice 雀 què sparrow; small bird with long wings, varies in plumage between sexes, feeds on grains and insects; refers broadly to small birds

小 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order