siu2 siu2小小
Jyutpingsiu2 siu2
Yalesíu síu
Definition
Slight, minor, or trivial; of a small degree and not considered important.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Often used to soften the tone when offering a gift or requesting a favor, making the action seem less burdensome to the other person. It carries a sense of modesty and humility that is highly valued in social interactions. While it functions as an adjective, it frequently acts as an adverbial modifier to verbs like 幫 or 意思.
Examples
This is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it.
Related words
Common phrases
a small token of appreciation
to help out a little bit
Common mistake
Avoid confusing it with 少少, which refers to a small quantity or amount. While 小小 emphasizes the trivial or minor nature of something, 少少 focuses on the scarcity or limited size of an object.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
