diminutive
/dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈmi-nyə-tiv/ (ame, mw) · /dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈmɪn.jə.t̬ɪv/ (ame, ipa)
diminutive — 形容詞
- diminutivepositive
- more diminutivecomparative
- most diminutivesuperlative
1. much smaller than normal in physical size, height, or build
小巧的
尺寸或身形明顯偏小
much smaller than normal in physical size, height, or build
The toy shop displayed a diminutive tea set beside the full-size one.
那家玩具店把一組小巧的茶具擺在正常尺寸的那組旁邊。
diminutive + noun for unusually small objects
Despite his diminutive frame, Darius carried both suitcases upstairs alone.
儘管 Darius 身形小巧，他還是獨自把兩個行李箱搬上樓。
common collocation: diminutive frame
A diminutive café stood between the pharmacy and the bus stop.
一家小巧的咖啡館立在藥局和公車站之間。
Mira spotted a diminutive frog resting on a wet leaf.
Mira 看見一隻小巧的青蛙停在濕葉子上。
文法句型
diminutive + noun
be + diminutive
用法筆記
More formal than 'small' or 'tiny'. It often appears in descriptive writing about a person's build or an object's physical scale.
2. describing a word form that marks smallness and may also add a warm or dismissiv
小稱的
指詞形帶有小巧、親暱或輕視語氣
describing a word form that marks smallness and may also add a warm or dismissive tone
In Spanish, -ito often creates a diminutive form with a warm tone.
在西班牙語裡，-ito 常會形成帶溫暖語氣的小稱形式。
diminutive form in grammar discussion
The teacher said the diminutive ending made the request sound kinder.
老師說，那個小稱字尾讓這個請求聽起來更和氣。
diminutive ending affecting tone
Grandma used a diminutive name for Ana when she felt affectionate.
奶奶想表達疼愛時，會用 Ana 的小稱叫法。
Some writers choose a diminutive nickname to make a hero seem unimportant.
有些作家會選用帶小稱色彩的暱稱，讓主角顯得不那麼重要。
文法句型
diminutive + form
diminutive + suffix
diminutive + name
用法筆記
Usually used in discussions of names, suffixes, and grammar. It can point either to affection or to a belittling effect, depending on context.
diminutive — 名詞
- diminutivesingular
- diminutivesplural
1. a word form or ending that signals small size and can also sound loving or sligh
指小詞
表示小巧、親暱或輕視的詞形
a word form or ending that signals small size and can also sound loving or slightly dismissive
The grammar book lists -let as a common English diminutive.
那本文法書把 -let 列為常見的英語指小詞。
diminutive referring to an ending or form
In Polish, one noun may have several diminutives for different tones.
在波蘭語裡，一個名詞可能會有好幾個表不同語氣的指小詞。
plural use: diminutives in one language
During class, Hana circled the diminutive in the word 'duckling' on the page.
上課時，Hana 在頁面上的 'duckling' 一字裡圈出了那個指小成分。
Students underlined each diminutive in the folk tale and explained its effect.
學生在那篇民間故事裡畫出每個指小詞，並說明它的效果。
文法句型
a diminutive of [word/name]
a diminutive in [language]
用法筆記
Mostly used in grammar or literary discussion rather than everyday conversation. For the affectionate short form of a person's name, see noun sense 2.
2. a shortened, familiar form of someone's personal name
愛稱
人名的簡短親暱叫法
a shortened, familiar form of someone's personal name
Theo began as a diminutive of Theodore in his family.
Theo 一開始是 Theodore 在家人間使用的愛稱。
a diminutive of + full name
At school, everyone used Gabi as a diminutive for Gabriela.
在學校裡，大家都用 Gabi 當 Gabriela 的愛稱。
use + diminutive for a person
Liz first appeared as a diminutive beneath Elizabeth on the form.
Liz 最早是在表格上以 Elizabeth 的愛稱形式出現。
Some diminutives later become official given names on birth certificates.
有些愛稱後來會變成出生證明上的正式名字。
文法句型
a diminutive of [name]
use a diminutive for [person]
用法筆記
Usually refers to a shortened, affectionate name form. It is commonly followed by 'of' when the full name is given.