trifling

/ˈtraɪflɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈaɪflɪŋ] /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈaɪflɪŋ] /ˈtrī-f(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce trifling (audio)/ (ame, mw)

trifling — adjective

  • triflingpositive
  • more triflingcomparative
  • most triflingsuperlative

1. describes something so small in amount, value, or seriousness that it does not d

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes something so small in amount, value, or seriousness that it does not deserve attention or concern.

例句

Nora considered the late fee a trifling amount and paid it at once.

adjective before noun: a trifling + amount / sum / matter

Walid did not want to lose a close friend over such a trifling disagreement.

pattern: over such a trifling + [noun]

同義詞
  • trivial

    more common and can describe things that are uninteresting rather than just small

  • insignificant

    stronger emphasis on having no importance or effect

  • petty

    often describes complaints, rules, or behaviour that are small-minded rather than the thing itself being small

  • negligible

    more formal, typically used for amounts so small they can be ignored

反義詞

文法句型

trifling + noun

用法筆記

Often used with dismissive or minimising expressions like 'such a', 'merely a', or 'only a' to emphasise that something is not worth concern. The noun it modifies is typically abstract (matter, issue, sum, expense, difference, detail, mistake).

常見錯誤

❌The damage to the car was trifling, but we still had to call the police.
✅The damage to the car was minor, but we still had to call the police.
💡'trifling' implies something truly negligible; use 'minor' when the small thing still matters enough to act on.
❌She gave me a trifling gift for my birthday.
✅She gave me a small gift for my birthday.
💡'trifling' carries a negative, dismissive tone that can sound rude about a gift.