微不足道
微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào) literally means “tiny not worth mentioning” and expresses “too slight to weigh at all”. 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
Too slight to weigh at all
Pronunciation: wēi bù zú dào Literal meaning: Tiny not worth mentioning
Origin & Usage
So slight (微) that it is not (不) enough (足) to speak of (道). The construction sets a threshold — there is an amount below which a thing does not merit mention — and puts the subject under it. That gives the phrase two quite separate lives. Said of one's own contribution it is the standard modest deflection of thanks; said of somebody else's it is dismissive to the point of rudeness. Chinese speakers use the first constantly and the second with care.
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
得不偿失
dé bù cháng shī
Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice
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无微不至
wú wēi bù zhì
Meticulous; attentive to every detail
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当务之急
dāng wù zhī jí
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
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知足不辱
zhī zú bù rǔ
Be content avoid shame
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见微知著
jiàn wēi zhī zhù
Foresee big from small signs
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防微杜渐
fáng wēi dù jiàn
Stop problems before they grow
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急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
Seek quick success and immediate benefit
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急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
Be impatient for success; rush things
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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 “Too slight to weigh at all”. 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”.