微不足道
微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào) literally means “tiny not worth mentioning” and expresses “insignificant; not worth mentioning”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: wei bu zu dao, wei bu zu dao,微不足道 meaning, 微不足道 in english
Insignificant; not worth mentioning
Pronunciation: wēi bù zú dào Literal meaning: Tiny not worth mentioning
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes something so tiny (微) that it's not (不) worth (足) mentioning (道). It emphasizes extreme insignificance or negligibility. The phrase appeared in texts using self-deprecation or describing genuinely minor matters. It can express humility when self-referential or dismissal when describing others' contributions. Modern usage describes things so small or unimportant they don't merit attention, from minor inconveniences to trivial contributions.
Examples
English: "His contribution to the project was negligible."
Chinese: 他对项目的贡献微不足道。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 微不足道 mean in English?
微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào) literally translates to “Tiny not worth mentioning” and is used to express “Insignificant; not worth mentioning”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 微不足道 used?
Situation: His contribution to the project was negligible.
What is the pinyin for 微不足道?
The pinyin pronunciation for 微不足道 is “wēi bù zú dào”.