small
small — 形容詞
- smallpositive
- smallercomparative
- smallestsuperlative
1. having less size, quantity, or degree than what people think of as typical
小的
尺寸或數量比平均小
having less size, quantity, or degree than what people think of as typical
The kitten was so small that it fit in Ramón's hand.
那隻小貓咪小到可以放在 Ramón 的手掌裡。
so + adjective + that-clause for result
Salma's family lives in a small house near the river.
Salma 一家人住在河邊一棟小房子裡。
We only need a small amount of butter for this cake.
我們做這個蛋糕只需要少量的奶油。
collocation: small amount of
The suitcase is small enough to take onto the plane.
這個手提箱小到可以帶上飛機。
adjective + enough + to-infinitive
Hoa picked a small flower and gave it to her grandmother.
Hoa 摘了一朵小花送給奶奶。
- small amount
- small size
- small piece
- small number
- small room
用法筆記
Used for both physical size and abstract quantities (a small number, a small fee).
常見錯誤
2. at an early stage of life — past the baby years but still very young
年幼的
年紀很小的（比嬰兒大）
at an early stage of life — past the baby years but still very young
Sumin was very small when she first learned to swim.
Sumin 很小的時候就學會了游泳。
used for children, not babies — implies toddler or young child age
The small children played together in the sandbox all morning.
那些小孩整個早上都在沙坑裡一起玩。
Sora's brother is still small — he just started his first year of school.
Sora 的弟弟還很小——他今年剛開始上小學。
Nikos has been teaching small children how to swim for years.
Nikos 教小孩子游泳已經好幾年了。
collocation: small children
A small child needs help with buttons and zippers.
年幼的孩子需要幫忙扣鈕扣和拉拉鍊。
- small child
- small children
- small boy
- small girl
- big
used informally for older children: 'my big sister'
用法筆記
Only used for people who have passed the baby stage but are not yet school-age or just starting school. Not used for teenagers or adults.
常見錯誤
3. limited in what you do or in how many people or activities are involved
小規模
活動範圍或規模有限
limited in what you do or in how many people or activities are involved
Gita runs a small business that sells handmade furniture.
Gita 經營一家小公司，專門販賣手工傢俱。
collocation: small business
The bakery started on a small scale, selling only to neighbours at first.
那間麵包店一開始只做小規模生意，最初只賣給附近的鄰居。
collocation: on a small scale
The café made small changes to the menu based on customer feedback.
那家咖啡館根據顧客的意見對菜單做了小幅調整。
A small group of volunteers cleaned up the park after the storm.
一小群志工在暴風雨後清理了公園。
collocation: small group
Sivan's company started small but now has fifty employees.
Sivan 的公司一開始規模很小，但現在已有五十名員工。
- small business
- small scale
- small group
- small change
- small operation
- large-scale
covering a wide range or involving many people
4. of little significance and unlikely to create difficulties
不重要的
不重要或不會造成問題
of little significance and unlikely to create difficulties
The broken zipper was only a small problem, and we fixed it quickly.
拉鍊壞掉只是個小問題，我們很快就修好了。
Adaeze did not get angry about small mistakes in the report.
Adaeze 不會因為報告裡的小錯誤而生氣。
collocation: small mistake
Emre and Hugo had a small disagreement about weekend plans, but they laughed it off later.
Emre 和 Hugo 為了週末計畫起了點小爭執，但後來他們一笑置之。
collocation: small disagreement
The design team spent too much time on small details like the font colour.
設計團隊花了太多時間討論像字型顏色這樣的小細節。
collocation: small detail
Jenna refused to argue with her roommate over such a small matter.
Jenna 拒絕為了這麼小的事情和室友吵架。
- small problem
- small mistake
- small matter
- small issue
- small detail
常見錯誤
5. feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or less important than others, usually because of
羞愧；渺小
感到羞愧、難堪或渺小
feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or less important than others, usually because of something someone said or did
After losing the race, Allison felt very small and wanted to hide.
比賽輸了之後，Allison 覺得很丟臉，想要躲起來。
pattern: feel small
The manager's rude comments made Selim feel small in front of everyone.
主管那些粗魯的評論讓 Selim 在大家面前覺得自己很渺小。
pattern: make someone feel small
Ramón felt small when he realized he could not help his friends.
Ramón 發現自己幫不上朋友的忙時，感到十分羞愧。
Adaeze's confident speech made Nikos feel small about his own effort.
Adaeze 自信的發言讓 Nikos 覺得自己的努力微不足道。
- feel small
- make someone feel small
- look small
- ashamed
more direct and common; focuses on guilt about a specific action
- humiliated
stronger — implies public embarrassment
- proud
feeling good about oneself — the opposite emotional state
文法句型
feel + small
make + object + feel + small
用法筆記
Almost always follows verbs like feel, make, or look. Rarely used alone as a direct description ('He is small' would be interpreted as sense 1).
常見錯誤
6. using the smaller form of a letter — such as 'a' instead of 'A'
小寫的
不是大寫字母
using the smaller form of a letter — such as 'a' instead of 'A'
Christopher wrote his name in small letters at the bottom of the page.
Christopher 在頁面底部用小寫字母寫下他的名字。
collocation: in small letters
Hugo wrote his address in small letters on the envelope, as the form required.
Hugo 按照表格要求，在信封上用的小寫字母寫地址。
Gita learned to write capital letters before she learned small ones.
Gita 先學會寫大寫字母，之後才學小寫字母。
The sign was printed in small letters that were hard to read.
那個標示是用小寫字母印的，很難看清楚。
Lucía's teacher asked her to fix any small letters that should be capitals in her essay.
Lucía 的老師要她把作文中該大寫的小寫字母修正過來。
contrast: small vs capital letters
- small letter
- small letters
- in small letters
- lowercase
the technical term in printing and computing; more formal than small
常見錯誤
it's a small world
idiomused to express surprise when you meet someone you know in an unexpected place or discover a connection with a stranger
這世界真小
I met my old neighbour from Taipei at a café in Paris. It's a small world, isn't it?
Sora discovered that the person sitting next to her on the flight grew up on her street in Seoul. "What a small world!" she said.
used to say that something is not surprising at all
難怪；不足為奇
With three of their best players injured, it was no small wonder the team lost the match.
Salma studied so hard for the exam that her high score came as no small wonder to her friends.
the small hours
idiomthe early morning hours, roughly from midnight to around 4 a.m.
凌晨時分
Eshe was still awake in the small hours, finishing her report.
The party went on into the small hours of the morning.
someone who is important or powerful within a small group or organisation, but would be less important in a larger setting
小池塘裡的大魚；小地方的佼佼者
Nikos was the top manager at a local firm — a big fish in a small pond.
Hugo left his hometown for the capital and realised he was no longer a big fish in a small pond.
the small print
idiomthe part of a legal document or contract that is printed in small letters and contains important conditions that people sometimes miss
細則；附帶條款
Always read the small print before signing a contract.
Hoa found a hidden fee in the small print of the insurance policy.
To feel happy that a bad situation is not even worse than it is.
慶幸情況沒有更糟
Maya was grateful for small mercies when she only broke her arm.
The rain stopped just in time for the picnic; we should be thankful for small mercies.
An important or influential person within a small or limited group.
小池塘裡的大魚
Diego was a big fish in a small pond at his local club.
After moving to the city, she was no longer a big fish in a small pond.
An advice to not worry about unimportant details or minor problems.
別為小事煩惱
Sara told her friend to don't sweat the small stuff before the exam.
When planning the party, remember to don't sweat the small stuff.
great and small
idiomIncluding all sizes or types, from the largest to the smallest.
大大小小
The zoo cares for animals great and small with equal attention.
All creatures great and small deserve our respect and care.
in a big/small way
idiomTo a large or small extent or scale.
大規模地/小規模地
The company expanded its business in a big way last year.
Min started investing in a small way with just a few stocks.
it’s a small world
idiomUsed to express surprise when meeting someone you know in an unexpected place or finding a mutual connection.
世界真小
When I met my old neighbor in Paris, I said, "It's a small world!"
Finding out that your new colleague knows your cousin—it's a small world.
look/feel small
idiomTo appear or feel foolish, embarrassed, or insignificant.
感到難堪/渺小
His harsh criticism made her feel small in front of everyone.
When I forgot my speech, I looked small on the stage.
It is not surprising; something is expected given the circumstances.
難怪
It's no wonder he failed the test; he never studied.
Small wonder she was upset after losing her job.
The time very early in the morning, soon after midnight.
凌晨時分
The party continued into the small hours of the morning.
She often works until the early hours to meet deadlines.
It is not surprising; something is expected given the circumstances.
難怪
It's small wonder that the team lost; they had no practice.
No wonder you are tired after running ten miles.
The inner voice of conscience or God that guides moral decisions.
良心的低語
He listened to the still small voice and returned the lost wallet.
The still small voice told her to apologize for her mistake.
small — 副詞
1. into a small size or small pieces
小尺寸
切成小塊或寫得很小
into a small size or small pieces
Cut the vegetables small so they cook more quickly.
把蔬菜切小塊，這樣煮起來比較快。
pattern: cut + object + small
Sivan writes so small that I need a magnifying glass to read it.
Sivan 的字寫得非常小，我得用放大鏡才看得清楚。
pattern: write + small
Fold the map small so it fits inside your jacket pocket.
把地圖摺小，這樣才能放進你的外套口袋。
The baker rolled the dough small before cutting out cookie shapes.
麵包師傅把麵糰擀薄，然後壓出餅乾的形狀。
- cut small
- chop small
- write small
- fold small
- finely
used specifically for cutting or grinding into very small pieces (finely chopped)
- large
adverb in phrases like 'write large', 'cut large'
文法句型
verb + small
用法筆記
Common in fixed verb phrases: cut something small, write small, fold small. The adverb always follows the verb.
small — 名詞
1. the narrow part of a person's back between the ribs and the hips
腰部
後背中間較窄的部位
the narrow part of a person's back between the ribs and the hips
Salma felt a sharp pain in the small of her back after gardening all day.
Salma 在花園忙了一整天之後，感到腰部一陣劇痛。
pattern: the small of [possessive] back
The doctor pressed gently on the small of Hoa's back during the check-up.
醫生在檢查時輕輕按了按 Hoa 的腰部。
After sitting all day, Christopher felt a sore spot in the small of his back.
坐了一整天之後，Christopher 覺得後腰有一個酸痛的點。
A small cushion supports the small of your back while you drive.
一個小靠枕可以在開車時支撐你的腰部。
- the small of the back
- the small of my back
文法句型
the small of [possessive] back
用法筆記
Always used with the definite article and followed by 'of' plus a possessive: 'the small of my/his/her/your back'. Never used alone ('My small hurts').
常見錯誤
2. items of underwear, particularly when they are being washed or packed for a trip
內衣物
待洗或剛洗好的貼身衣物
items of underwear, particularly when they are being washed or packed for a trip
Gita put the smalls in the washing machine with the towels.
Gita 把內衣物和毛巾一起放進洗衣機裡。
informal British usage: smalls = underwear
The hotel offers a small bag for guests to wash their smalls by hand.
飯店提供一個小袋子讓房客手洗內衣物。
Baraka packed his smalls in a separate bag before his holiday trip.
Baraka 在度假出發前把他的內衣物另外裝在一個袋子裡。
The hotel laundry collected towels and smalls separately.
飯店的洗衣部把毛巾和內衣物分開收取。
- wash the smalls
- pack smalls
- smalls
用法筆記
An old-fashioned or informal British term. Usually plural (smalls). More common in the context of laundry than daily conversation.
同根字
- smallness名詞B2
- smallish形容詞B2
常見搭配
名詞搭配
- small size
- small amount
- small number
- small quantity
副詞搭配
- relatively small
- fairly small
- quite small
- too small
- very small
- extremely small
常用片語
- big and small
- small but ...
- large and small
介系詞搭配
- small for
- small in