微不足道

wēi bù zú dào
idiom★Intermediate— insignificant◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
Something so small or trivial that it is not worth mentioning or considering.
Literal Meaning
Too small to mention.
Literal Breakdown
微small+不足not enough+道to mention
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture is of something so tiny that it doesn't even deserve to be spoken about.
◈ When to Use
When someone downplays their own contribution to a project, they might say, 'My role was微不足道.'
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the Chinese cultural value of humility and modesty, often used to avoid appearing boastful.
informal

Something so small or trivial that it is not worth mentioning or considering.

他的贡献在团队中微不足道。

His contribution to the team is insignificant.

💡

This idiom is often used to downplay the importance of something or someone's role.

Related Phrases

至关重要phrase
of vital importance

💡Pro Tip

Usage Tip

Use this idiom when you want to emphasize that something is so small or trivial that it doesn't warrant attention.

⚡Gold Rule

Literal vs. Figurative

The literal meaning of the components is 'too small to mention,' but the idiom conveys the figurative meaning of insignificance.

📖Word Origin

The idiom combines '微' (small), '不足' (not enough), and '道' (to mention), literally meaning 'too small to mention.' It emphasizes the triviality of something.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe something as unimportant or negligible.

Word Breakdown

微
small
root
+
不足
not enough
root
+
道
to mention
root
汉英词典