Chinese word

太小

Pronunciation

Pinyintài xiǎo

Meaning

  • adjectivetoo small

Example

这件衣服太小了。zhè jiàn yī fú tài xiǎo le

This piece of clothing is too small.

Illustration for 太小 (too small)

More examples

对我来说这件裙子太小，穿不了。duì wǒ lái shuō zhè jiàn qún zi tài xiǎo chuān bù liǎo

This skirt is too small for me to wear.

Core concept

The object does not leave enough room for its intended use, and the speaker treats that shortage as beyond the acceptable range.

Common phrases

  • 这件衣服太小了zhè jiàn yī fú tài xiǎo le

    This piece of clothing is too small

  • 对我来说太小duì wǒ lái shuō tài xiǎo

    too small for me

  • 尺码太小chí mǎ tài xiǎo

    the size is too small

Similar words

小xiǎo: Having a small size or a small amount.
有点儿小yóu diǎnr xiǎo: Being a little small in a softened, less direct way.

Definition in Chinese

表示某物在大小上超出可接受范围地不足，多用于表达感受或判断，常与“了”连用以示结果或强调。biǎo shì mǒu wù zài dà xiǎo shàng chāo chū kě jiē shòu fàn wéi dì bù zú duō yòng yú biǎo dá gǎn shòu huò pàn duàn cháng yǔ le lián yòng yǐ shì jié guǒ huò qiáng diào

Word origin

太小 (tàixiǎo, "too small") uses the degree adverb 太 (tài, "too, overly") to modify 小 (xiǎo, "small"), creating a phrase for excessive smallness.

Usage tips

  • For clothing, English often uses "tight" for an uncomfortable fit, while Chinese can use the size adjective, so context shows whether the concern is dimensions or comfort.

Other meanings

  • be too tightverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word