small-scale operations; piecemeal work
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to do things on a small scale; to work in a piecemeal fashion
Often implies a lack of ambition or scope, and is frequently contrasted with large-scale, systematic approaches. Can be used for business, reforms, or any organized activity.
Zuò做
shēng生
yì意
bù不
néng能
zǒng总
shì是
xiǎo小
dǎ打
xiǎo小
nào闹
，
yào要
gǎn敢
xiǎng想
gǎn敢
gàn干
。
You can't always do business on a small scale; you need to think big and act boldly.
Yǐ以
qián前
zhǐ只
shì是
xiǎo小
dǎ打
xiǎo小
nào闹
，
xiàn现
zài在
wǒ我
men们
yào要
kuò扩
dà大
guī规
mó模
。
We used to just work on a small scale, but now we want to expand our operations.
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Zhè这
xiē些
gǎi改
gé革
zhǐ只
shì是
xiǎo小
dǎ打
xiǎo小
nào闹
，
méi没
yǒu有
chù触
jí及
gēn根
běn本
wèn问
tí题
。
These reforms are just piecemeal adjustments that don't address the fundamental issues.