tí xíu

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tí xíu

Con chim tí xíu đậu trên cành cây.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Very little, very small: Describes something that is extremely small in size, amount, or degree. It emphasizes a diminutive scale, often with a nuance of being tiny, minute, or a very small quantity.
Usage
  • As an adjective: "Tí xíu" is used to modify nouns directly, indicating their smallness. It is a colloquial and emphatic term, more expressive than just "tí" or "nhỏ". It can describe physical size or a very small amount of something abstract.
  • Common patterns: It often follows the noun it describes (e.g., ). It can also be used after verbs like "có" (to have) to indicate a small amount (e.g., ).
Usage Examples

  • Describing physical size:

    • Bé tí xíu. (Very tiny.)
    • Viên ngọc trai tí xíu. (A very tiny pearl.)
    • Chiếc đồng hồ tí xíu. (A very small watch.)

  • Describing a small amount:

    • Chỉ còn tí xíu đường thôi. (There's only a very little bit of sugar left.)
    • Cho tôi tí xíu muối. (Give me just a tiny bit of salt.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Một tí xíu": This phrase means "a very little bit" and is used to emphasize an extremely small quantity. It functions similarly to "một chút xíu".
    • Đợi tôi một tí xíu nhé! (Wait for me just a tiny little bit!)
  • Reduplication for emphasis: The word itself is a reduplicated form of "tí", making its meaning more vivid and expressive than the root word alone.
Variants and Related Words
  • Tí: (adj) Little, small. A shorter, less emphatic form.
    • Một tí. (A little bit.)
  • Chút xíu: (adj) A little bit. A near-synonymous phrase with identical meaning and usage.
    • Một chút xíu. (A tiny little bit.)
  • Bé xíu: (adj) Very small, tiny. Often used interchangeably with "tí xíu" for physical size.
    • Con mèo bé xíu. (A tiny kitten.)
Synonyms
  • Nhỏ xíu: Very small (emphasizing physical size).
  • Một chút: A little, a bit (less emphatic than "tí xíu").
  • Một ít: A little, some (neutral in tone).
Related Phrases
  • Tí tẹo: (adj) A very small amount; a synonym often used in the North of Vietnam.
    • Còn tí tẹo nước. (There's a teeny bit of water left.)
  • Tí ti: (adj) Very little, tiny. Another common colloquial variant.
    • Bánh tí ti. (A tiny cake.)
Related Idioms
  • Nhỏ như cái tăm: (As small as a toothpick) - An idiom for describing something very thin and small.
  • Bé hạt tiêu: (As small as a peppercorn) - An idiom for describing something very tiny.
tí xíu

Con chim tí xíu đậu trên cành cây.

adj
  1. Very little