siu2 si6小事
Jyutpingsiu2 si6
Yalesíu sih
Definition
A small issue, minor matter, or trivial thing of little importance.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Often used to dismiss a problem or to calm someone down when they are overreacting. It frequently appears in the phrase 小事一樁, which emphasizes that a task is very easy or insignificant. When someone makes a big deal out of nothing, locals might use the idiom 小事化大 to describe the escalation.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
Don't be so nervous about these small matters.
Related words
Common phrases
a piece of cake
make a mountain out of a molehill
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe someone's personal problems or feelings, as it can sound dismissive or insensitive. Calling a serious emotional issue a 小事 may come across as invalidating the other person's experience.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
