little
adjective /ˈlɪtl/
/ˈlɪtl/
[usually before noun] The forms littler /ˈlɪtlə(r)/
/ˈlɪtlər/
and littlest /ˈlɪtlɪst/
/ˈlɪtlɪst/
are rare. It is more common to use smaller and smallest.Idioms - not big; small; smaller than others
小的；比较小的 - a little house
小房子 - a little group of tourists
一小群游客 - a little old lady
一位小老太太 - We passed through several nice little towns.
我们经过了几个美丽的小镇。 - It was a tiny little room.
这是一个小小的房间。 - ‘Which do you want?’ ‘I'll take the little one.’
“你要哪一个？” “我要那个小的。” - She gave a little laugh.
她笑了一笑。 - (British English) We should manage, with a little bit of luck.
我们只要有一点点运气就能应付过去。 - Here's a little something (= a small present) for your birthday.
这是送给你的生日小礼物。
- It was a lovely little village before the war.
战前那是个可爱的小村庄。 - The room was full of funny little animals.
房间里满是有趣的小动物。 - I was a little bit afraid of him.
我有点儿怕他。 - We had a little adventure yesterday.
昨天我们经历了一次小小的冒险。 - You'll feel a little sting.
你会觉得有点儿刺痛。
- a little house
- young
年幼的；幼小的 - a little boy/girl
小男孩；小女孩 - He's just a little kid.
他只是个小孩。 - my little brother/sister (= younger brother/sister)
我的弟弟／妹妹 - The little ones were already in bed.
小家伙们已经在床上了。 - cute little baby animals
可爱的小动物宝宝 - I lived in America when I was little.
我小时候生活在美国。 - He's still very little and doesn't understand yet.
他还很小，还不懂。
- a little boy/girl
- (of distance or time
距离或时间 短的；近的；短暂的 - A little while later the phone rang.
过了一小会儿电话响了起来。 - Shall we walk a little way?
我们走一小段路好吗？
- A little while later the phone rang.
- used after an adjective to show approval, sympathy or dislike, especially in a patronizing way (= one that suggests that you think you are better than somebody)
（用在形容词的后面表示喜爱或厌恶，尤指屈尊俯就地）可爱的，可怜的，讨厌的 - The poor little thing! It's lost its mother.
这可怜的小家伙！没有了妈妈。 - What a nasty little man!
多么令人讨厌的家伙！ - She's a good little worker.
她是个讨人喜欢的工人。 - He'd become quite the little gentleman.
他成了颇有风度的绅士了。
- The poor little thing! It's lost its mother.
- not important; not serious
微不足道的；不严重的 - I can't remember every little detail.
我记不住每一个微小的细节。 - Sometimes it's the little things that count.
有时候重要的是小事。 - You soon get used to the little difficulties.
你很快就会习惯这些小小的不便了。
- The system has some odd little quirks.
这个系统有些奇怪的小毛病。 - It's just one of life's little mysteries.
这只是生活中的一个小秘密。 - All those problems because of one little mistake!
所有这些问题都是因为一个小差错！
- I can't remember every little detail.
词源Old English lȳtel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch luttel, German dialect lützel.
Idioms
great/tall oaks from little acorns grow
- (saying) something large and successful often begins in a very small way
参天橡树长自小小橡实；合抱之树，生于毫末
a little bird told me
- (informal) used to say that somebody told you something but you do not want to say who it was
（不想说出是谁告诉的）有人告诉我的，不告诉你我是怎么知道的
(it’s) no/little/small wonder (that)…
- it is not surprising
微不足道的；不严重的 - It is little wonder (that) she was so upset.
她如此心烦意乱，并不奇怪。 - (informal) No wonder you're tired—you've been walking for hours.
难怪你累了呢，你一直走了好几个小时。 - No wonder you're still single—you never go out!
难怪你还单身 － 你太宅了！
- It is little wonder (that) she was so upset.