humble self-reference; trivial; ordinary
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplespronoun
humble self-reference; I (unworthy)
archaicUsed in early vernacular Chinese (Ming/Qing novels) as a humble first-person pronoun, similar to 'your humble servant'. Often paired with modest terms like 不才.
Xiǎo小
kě可
bù不
gǎn敢
dāng当
。
I am not worthy of such honor.
Xiǎo小
kě可
xìng姓
Lǐ李
，
jiāng江
hú湖
rén人
chēng称
Xiǎo小
Lǐ李
。
Your humble servant is surnamed Li, known in the martial world as Little Li.
adjective
trivial; slight; ordinary; insignificant
Describes something as minor or common. Most frequently appears in the negative construction 非同小可 (not trivial / no small matter), indicating something serious or significant.
Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
fēi非
tóng同
xiǎo小
kě可
，
bì必
xū须
lì立
jí即
chǔ处
lǐ理
。
This matter is no trivial affair and must be dealt with immediately.
Cǐ此
rén人
shí实
lì力
fēi非
tóng同
xiǎo小
kě可
，
bù不
kě可
qīng轻
dí敌
。
This person's abilities are no small matter; do not underestimate the enemy.
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Zài在
tā他
kàn看
lái来
，
zhè这
xiē些
kùn困
nan难
xiǎo小
kě可
bù不
zú足
guà挂
chǐ齿
。
In his view, these difficulties are trivial and not worth mentioning.