mite

/maɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /maɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmīt/ (ame, mw)

mite — 名詞

  • mitesingular
  • mitesplural

1. any of many kinds of very small eight-legged arachnids, related to spiders and t

1.名詞B2
釋義

蟎；蟎蟲

極小的八腳節肢動物

any of many kinds of very small eight-legged arachnids, related to spiders and ticks, which often live on plants, animals, food, or in house dust and can cause disease or skin irritation.

例句

Kofi sneezed every morning because dust mites had built up in his old mattress.

Kofi 每天早上都打噴嚏，因為他的舊床墊裡長了塵蟎。

collocation: dust mites + cause/build up

The farmer sprayed the apple trees to kill red spider mites before the fruit ripened.

農夫在果實成熟前，先噴藥消滅蘋果樹上的紅蜘蛛蟎。

collocation: spider mites (agricultural pest)

同義詞
  • tick

    larger, blood-feeding relative; ticks are arachnids too but distinct from mites

  • chigger

    informal name for a type of larval mite that bites humans

文法句型

a mite

dust mites

mites on/in [host]

用法筆記

Often used with a modifier naming the host or habitat (dust, spider, bee, ear). The bare word 'mite' on its own is uncommon outside biology contexts — usually paired with one of these modifiers.

常見錯誤

❌I have a mite in my eye.' (when meaning a speck of dust).
✅I have a speck of dust in my eye.
💡a mite is a living arachnid, not a generic small particle.

2. a young child you feel tender or sorry for, especially because the child is smal

2.名詞C1
釋義

小可憐

讓人心疼的小孩

a young child you feel tender or sorry for, especially because the child is small, ill, tired, or in a hard situation.

例句

The poor little mite cried for an hour after losing her stuffed rabbit.

那個可憐的小娃兒弄丟了她的玩偶兔子，哭了一個小時。

collocation: poor little mite (most common frame)

Pim looked at the sleeping baby and whispered, "What a sweet little mite she is."

Pim 看著熟睡的寶寶，輕聲說：「她真是個可愛的小娃兒。」

informal endearment register

同義詞
  • little one

    more neutral, no sympathy implied

  • tot

    informal for a very young child, without the tender or pitying tone

文法句型

poor (little) mite

the little mite

用法筆記

Almost always preceded by 'poor', 'little', or both, and often used by an adult expressing sympathy. Distinguish from sense 1 (the arachnid): context — a person, usually a child — makes the meaning obvious.

常見錯誤

❌My boss is such a mite.' (when meaning small in importance).
✅My boss is such a small fish.
💡'mite' for a person only describes a young child you feel sorry for, not an unimportant adult.

3. a very small portion of something, often money or food, especially when contrast

3.名詞C1
釋義

一點點；微薄

少量，常指食物或錢

a very small portion of something, often money or food, especially when contrasted with how much more is needed or expected.

例句

Christopher gave the homeless musician a mite of his lunch and walked on.

Christopher 給了那位流浪音樂家一點點午餐，便繼續往前走。

pattern: a mite of + noun (food)

The old church survived on the mites that worshippers dropped into the collection box.

那間老教堂全靠信徒投進奉獻箱裡的微薄金錢維持下去。

religious / charity context (the widow's mite)

同義詞
  • scrap

    more concrete and physical, suggesting leftovers

  • bit

    neutral and very common; 'a mite' is more formal or literary

反義詞
  • heap

    informal for a large amount

文法句型

a mite

a mite of [N]

not a mite

用法筆記

Often appears in the fixed expression 'the widow's mite' (a small but heartfelt gift). Distinguish from sense 4: this sense is a noun ('a mite of food'); sense 4 is an adverb ('a mite tired').

常見錯誤

❌I have a mite of work to finish.' (when meaning a lot).
✅I have a mountain of work to finish.
💡a mite always means a tiny amount, never a large one.

4. to a small degree; somewhat. Used before an adjective or comparative to soften t

4.名詞C1
釋義

稍微；有點

用於形容詞前，表程度輕

to a small degree; somewhat. Used before an adjective or comparative to soften the statement.

例句

Min seemed a mite tired after the long drive back from Taipei.

Min 從台北長途開車回來後，看起來有點累。

a mite + adjective (most common frame)

The soup tasted a mite too salty for William's liking.

那道湯對 William 來說稍微太鹹了一點。

a mite + too + adjective

同義詞
  • slightly

    neutral and more common

  • a tad

    informal, very close synonym; 'a tad' is slightly more common in modern speech

反義詞
  • very

    marks a high degree, the opposite of 'a mite'

文法句型

a mite + adjective

a mite + comparative

用法筆記

Always appears as 'a mite' followed by an adjective or comparative — never on its own. Slightly softer and more old-fashioned than 'a bit' or 'a little'. Distinguish from sense 3: here 'a mite' modifies an adjective (a mite tired), not a noun (a mite of bread).

常見錯誤

❌I am mite tired.
✅I am a mite tired.
💡sense 4 must always include the article 'a'.