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
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
Learn more →
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
Learn more →
好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
Learn more →
物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
Learn more →
塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
Learn more →
近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
Learn more →
夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
Learn more →
因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
Learn more →
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”.