sai3 nap1細粒细粒
Jyutpingsai3 nap1
Yalesai nāp
Definition
Small in size, stature, or volume; also insignificant or low-status.
- small in size or stature; tiny
- figurativeinsignificant; low-status; unimportant
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Primarily describes the physical stature of people or the size of small objects like fruits or pebbles. When applied to people, it carries a sense of being petite or compact rather than just short. It is a very common, affectionate, or neutral way to describe someone's build, avoiding the potential bluntness of calling someone short.
Examples
Although she is small in stature, she is very strong.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe abstract concepts like small amounts of money or time, as it specifically refers to physical volume or body size. For abstract smallness, use 細 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
