ti tiểu
Definition
- Adjective:
- Petty and cowardly: Describes a person's character as being both overly concerned with trivial matters and lacking courage or moral strength, often implying a contemptible small-mindedness.
- Insignificant and base: Refers to something or someone being of little importance or value, combined with a sense of lowliness or lack of nobility.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Hắn ta có một tính cách ti tiểu, chỉ nghĩ đến lợi ích cá nhân. (He has a petty and cowardly character, only thinking of personal gain.)
- Những toan tính ti tiểu đó không đáng để anh bận tâm. (Those petty and base calculations are not worth your concern.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "ti tiểu" is often used in literary or formal critiques to condemn actions or mindsets considered unworthy and driven by fear or selfishness over minor things.
- Lịch sử sẽ phán xét những âm mưu ti tiểu của họ. (History will judge their petty and base schemes.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nhỏ mọn (adj): petty, small-minded. This is a close synonym but does not strongly carry the connotation of cowardice.
- Đừng có những suy nghĩ nhỏ mọn. (Don't have petty thoughts.)
- Hèn nhát (adj): cowardly. This emphasizes cowardice without the strong connotation of pettiness.
- Hành động hèn nhát đó bị mọi người lên án. (That cowardly act was condemned by everyone.)
Synonyms
- Petty: concerned with trivial matters.
- Mean-spirited: unkind or petty in a selfish way.
- Contemptible: deserving scorn, despicable.
Related Idioms
- While "ti tiểu" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it describes the nature of actions in phrases like:
- Hành động ti tiểu: a petty and base action.
- Tâm địa ti tiểu: a petty and base mind/heart.