Correct
渺小 vs 微小
/ miǎoxiǎo vs wēixiǎo /
Strokes
Definition
tiny,insignificant/ tiny,infinitely small
The words 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo) and 微小 (wēixiǎo) both mean "tiny" or "extremely small" in Chinese, 渺小 is mostly used in an abstract meaning, 微小 is applied to concrete things, but sometimes also to abstract difference or range.but they differ in connotation, usage, and emotional tone. Here’s a detailed comparison:
1. Core Meaning & Nuance
| Word | Literal Meaning | Figurative Meaning | Emotional Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 渺小 | "Tiny" (physically small) | Insignificant, trivial (often with negative or humble connotations) | Subjective, emotional (often self-deprecating or贬低 others) |
| 微小 | "Tiny" (physically small) | Minute, negligible (neutral or objective) | Neutral, technical |
Examples:
- 渺小:
- 在宇宙面前，人类显得很渺小。
(In the face of the universe, humans seem insignificant.) → Emphasizes humility/insignificance. - 别把自己想得太渺小，你也很重要。
(Don’t think of yourself as too trivial—you matter too.) → Self-deprecating tone.
- 在宇宙面前，人类显得很渺小。
- 微小:
- 细菌的体型非常微小。
(Bacteria are microscopically small in size.) → Neutral description. - 这件事只有微小的影响。
(This matter has only a negligible impact.) → Objective assessment.
- 细菌的体型非常微小。
Key Difference:
- 渺小 implies philosophical or emotional smallness (e.g., human insignificance in the universe).
- 微小 focuses on physical or quantifiable smallness (e.g., size of particles).
2. Usage Contexts
| Context | 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo) | 微小 (wēixiǎo) |
|---|---|---|
| Human humility | ✅ Common (e.g., "feel small") | ❌ Rare |
| Scientific/technical | ❌ Rare | ✅ Common (e.g., "microscopic") |
| Negative judgment | ✅ (e.g., "your efforts are trivial") | ❌ Neutral |
| Neutral description | ❌ | ✅ (e.g., "small gap") |
Examples:
- ✅ 渺小: 他的贡献在历史中显得很渺小。
(His contribution seems trivial in history.) → Negative judgment. - ✅ 微小: 这个误差微小到可以忽略。
(This error is tiny enough to ignore.) → Technical context.
3. Grammatical Flexibility
- Both can modify nouns directly (e.g., 渺小的生物 / 微小的生物).
- 渺小 is more likely to be used predicatively (e.g., 人类很渺小).
- 微小 often pairs with measurements (e.g., 微小的变化 / 微小的差距).
4. Common Collocations
| 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo) | 微小 (wēixiǎo) |
|---|---|
| 感到渺小 (feel insignificant) | 微小生物 (microorganisms) |
| 渺小的存在 (insignificant existence) | 微小差距 (tiny gap) |
| 力量渺小 (powerless) | 微小进步 (minor progress) |
Idiomatic Use:
- 渺小 appears in literary/philosophical contexts (e.g., 渺小如尘 *"as insignificant as dust"*).
- 微小 is used in scientific terms (e.g., 微生物 *"microbe"*).
Summary Table
| Aspect | 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo) | 微小 (wēixiǎo) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Meaning | Insignificant (emotional) | Tiny (physical/quantitative) |
| Tone | Subjective, humble/贬低 | Objective, neutral |
| Contexts | Philosophy, self-reflection | Science, measurements |
| Example | "人类在宇宙中很渺小。" | "细菌的尺寸很微小。" |
Final Tip
Think of 渺小 as "small in the grand scheme of things" (emotional) and 微小 as "small in size" (neutral). Use 渺小 for poetry and 微小 for lab reports! 😊
Example
渺小 sometimes has a derogatory sense.
1
Zhè
这
chū
出
huàjù
话剧
jì
既
gēsòng
歌颂
le
了
yīngxíong
英雄
rénwù
人物
de
的
wěidà
伟大
,
yě
也
miáoxiě
描写
le
了
gǒuqiětōushēng
苟且偷生
zhī
之
bèi
辈
de
的
miǎoxiǎo
渺小
hé
和
bēihuī
卑徽
。
In this play,the great hero was eulogized, while the insignificant who seeks ease and comfort at others' expense was criticized.
渺小 is not a typical derogatory term, but just means "small and weak, insignificant".
2
Zài
在
dàzìrán
大自然
de
的
lìliang
力量
miànqián
面前
,
gèrén
个人
de
的
lìliang
力量
xiǎnde
显得
shí
十
fēn
分
miǎoxiǎo
渺小
。
Man looks insignificant before the nature.
3
Gēn
跟
nāwèi
那位
yīngxíong
英雄
rénwù
人物
xiāngbǐ
相比
,
wǒ
我
zìjǐ
自己
shì
是
duōme
多么
miǎoxiǎo
渺小
ā
啊
!
Compared with the hero, how insignificant I am!
微小 has no derogatory meaning and is mostly applied to the shape of concrete things.
Here, 渺小 can not be used instead.
4
Xìbāo
细胞
de
的
xíngtǐ
形体
fēicháng
非常
wēixiǎo
微小
。
The shape of the cell is very tiny.
5
Zhèzhǒng
这种
língjiàn
零件
de
的
tǐjī
体积
shí
十
fēn
分
wēixiǎo
微小
。
The size of such parts is very small.
微小 has no derogatory meaning and is mostly applied to difference.
Here, 渺小 can not be used instead.
6
Zhè
这
liǎng
两
zhǒng
种
jīqì
机器
de
的
zuòyòng
作用
dàtǐ
大体
xiāngtóng
相同
,
zhīyǒu
只有
yīxiē
一些
wēixiǎo
微小
de
的
chābié
差别
。
The two machines work more or less the same, with only a few minor differences.
微小 has no derogatory meaning and is mostly applied to scope.
Here, 渺小 can not be used instead.
7
Tā
他
zuìjìn
最近
de
的
jìnbù
进步
suīrán
虽然
wēixiǎo
微小
,
háishi
还是
zhíde
值得
gǔlì
鼓励
de
的
。
His recent progress, although small, is encouraging.
8
Tā
他
suīrán
虽然
chèzǒu
撤走
le
了
tā
他
de
的
zījīn
资金
,
dàn
但
shùliàng
数量
bù
不
dà
大
,
duì
对
zhěnggè
整个
qǐyè
企业
de
的
yǐngxiǎng
影响
shì
是
wēixiǎo
微小
de
的
。
Although he withdrew his funds, the amount was small and the impact on the entire enterprise was minimal.
Sometimes when used in contrast with 巨大 etc. , the two words (渺小 and 微小) are interchangeable.
9
Gèrén
个人
de
的
zuòyòng
作用
shì
是
miǎoxiǎo
渺小
(
wēixiǎo
微小
)
de
的
,
jítǐ
集体
de
的
zuòyòng
作用
cái
才
shì
是
jùdà
巨大
de
的
。
The strength of a collective is great, whereas that of an individual is tiny.
Mistake
Mistake Alert!
❌ Avoid using 渺小 for neutral/scientific descriptions:
- ❌ 这个细胞的体积很渺小。 (Incorrect; use 微小.)
- ✅ 这个细胞的体积很微小。
❌ Avoid using 微小 for emotional humility:
- ❌ 在自然面前，我们非常微小。 (Sounds odd; use 渺小.)
- ✅ 在自然面前，我们非常渺小。
Exercise
Practice Sentences
- 量子物理学研究的是________的粒子。 (微小 – Quantum physics studies microscopically small particles.)
- 面对灾难，我们才意识到自己的________。 (渺小 – Facing disasters, we realize how insignificant we are.)