Chinese Conversation · Level 59
90 words
Chinese word
小意思
Pronunciation
Pinyinxiǎo yì si
Meaning
- nounlittle something
Example
我带了点小意思给你。wǒ dài le diǎn xiǎo yì si gěi nǐ
I brought you a little something.
More examples
收下这点小意思就好，不用破费。shōu xià zhè diǎn xiǎo yì si jiù hǎo bú yòng pò fèi
Just accept this little something; you do not need to go to any expense.
Core concept
A modest token whose personal meaning matters more than its material value.
Common phrases
带了点小意思给你dài le diǎn xiǎo yì si gěi nǐ
brought a little something for you
当作小意思送给你dàng zuò xiǎo yì si sòng gěi nǐ
give you this as a little something
Similar words
礼物lǐ wù: An item given to another person as a gift.
小礼物xiǎo lǐ wù: A small gift given to someone.
心意xīn yì: The feelings of goodwill and thoughtfulness shown toward someone.
Definition in Chinese
表示一种象征性的致意，既可指实际的小礼物，也常用作谦辞，强调表达心意而非价值。biǎo shì yì zhǒng xiàng zhēng xìng de zhì yì jì kě zhǐ shí jì de xiǎo lǐ wù yě cháng yòng zuò qiān cí qiáng diào biǎo dá xīn yì ér fēi jià zhí
Word origin
小意思 (xiǎoyìsi, "little something") joins 小 (xiǎo, "small") with 意思 (yìsi, "thought or feeling"), showing that the gesture matters more than the gift's material value.
Usage tips
- In everyday gift giving, this expression often makes the giver sound modest, so it usually describes the gesture rather than judging the gift as unimportant or cheap.
Other meanings
- thank-you giftnoun
Opposites
- 贵重礼物guì zhòng lǐ wùvaluable giftnoun
Related words
- 小意思儿xiǎo yì sirlittle giftnoun