迷你
mínǐ
The English word "mini" is translated into Chinese as 迷你 (mínǐ).
迷你 is used as an adjective before a noun to describe small versions of consumer products, such as a 迷你裙 (mini skirt) or a 迷你版 (mini version). It describes something that is much smaller than the usual size.
What does it mean word for word?
迷你 is a phonetic transliteration of the English word "mini".
How do you pronounce it?
mínǐ
Did you know?
- The term 迷你裙 (mini skirt) became a symbol of Western liberation and fashion rebellion in China during the late 1970s and 1980s.
- Chinese uses a 'reduplication' pattern for smallness, where repeating a character like 小小的 (small small) creates a feeling of 'mini' that is more emotional and descriptive than the formal 迷你.
- The character 迷 in 迷你 also means 'fan' or 'enthusiast', which is why the word can subconsciously evoke a sense of fascination or obsession with the object.
Examples in context
- 小型车 (xiǎoxíng chē)Mini car
- 小型冰箱 (xiǎoxíng bīngxiāng)Mini fridge
- 小型计算机 (xiǎoxíng jìsuànjī)Mini computer
- 迷你裙 (mí nǐ qún)Mini skirt
- 迷你音响 (mí nǐ yīnxiǎng)Mini speaker
- 迷你尺寸 (mí nǐ chǐcùn)Mini dimensions
- 微型餐厅 (wēi xíng cāntīng)Mini restaurant
- 微型狗 (wēi xíng gǒu)Mini dog
- 小巧玩具 (xiǎo qiǎo wánjù)Mini toy
- 小巧手提包 (xiǎo qiǎo shǒutí bāo)Mini handbag
- 小巧设计 (xiǎo qiǎo shèjì)Mini design
- 这是一款迷你电脑。Zhè shì yī kuǎn mínǐ diànnǎo.This is a mini computer.
- 他在玩迷你模型。Tā zài wán mínǐ móxíng.He is playing with mini models.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a small gadget in a store.
- 俊杰 Junjie佳怡，你看这个迷你相机！Jiāyí, nǐ kàn zhège mínǐ xiàngjī!Jiayi, look at this mini camera!
- 佳怡 Jiayi哇，它真的太小了。Wa, tā zhēnde tài xiǎo le.Wow, it is really so small.
- 俊杰 Junjie而且它很方便携带。Érqiě tā hěn fāngbiàn xiédài.And it is very convenient to carry.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我想买一个给俊杰。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīgè gěi Jùnjié.I want to buy one for Junjie.
