1 little /ˈlɪtl̟/ adjective less /ˈlɛs/ or lesser /ˈlɛsɚ/ also littler /ˈlɪtl̟ɚ/ ; least /ˈliːst/ also littlest /ˈlɪtl̟əst/ less /ˈlɛs/ or lesser /ˈlɛsɚ/ also littler /ˈlɪtl̟ɚ/ ; least /ˈliːst/ also littlest /ˈlɪtl̟əst/ Learner's definition of LITTLE
1
a : small in size(尺寸)小的 -
She has little feet.她腳很小。
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a little island/airplane小島;小型飛機
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a little business小企業
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Our school is little.我們的學校不大。
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a tiny little fish袖珍魚
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This room is littler [=(more commonly) smaller] than that one.這間屋子比那間還小。
b : not tall : short(個子)矮的 c : small in amount(數量)少的 -
I have very little money, so I can't lend you any.我沒什麽錢了,所以不能借給你。
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I have less money than I did before.我的錢比以前少了。
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I got very little sleep last night.我昨晚幾乎沒睡什麽覺。
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There's little hope of a rescue now.現在救援的希望很渺茫了。
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You have little choice but to pay attention.你沒什麽選擇,只能多加注意。
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The new version bears little resemblance to the original.新版和原版沒什麽相似之處。
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These programs have very/precious little chance of succeeding.這些方案成功的概率極低。
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The help he offered us was too little, too late. [=it was not as much help as we needed and it was offered too late to be helpful]他給我們的幫助太有限也太遲了。
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There has been little if any improvement. [=there has been almost no improvement]幾乎沒什麽改進。
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These trinkets have little or no value.這些小飾品幾乎沒什麽價值。
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There was no little sadness in his voice. [=there was a lot of sadness in his voice]他的聲音中充滿着悲傷。
d : not having many things or people included(人或事物)少量的 -
We're having a little party this weekend.我們本周末要小聚一下。
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a little group of people一小群人
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a little village小村莊
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her little hometown她那不大的家鄉
2
: young or younger年紀輕的;年紀小的 -
I loved swimming when I was little.我小時候喜歡遊泳。
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a little boy/girl小男孩/女孩
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He's very proud of his little boy/girl. [=of his young son/daughter]他爲自己幼小的兒子/女兒而自豪。
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How's your little one? [=your young(est) son or daughter]你的小不點兒好嗎?
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my little brother/sister [=my brother/sister who is younger than I am]我的弟弟/妹妹
3
always used before a noun : not lasting for a long time短暫的 -
I have to take a little break.我得稍微休息一下。
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We sat down for a little chat.我們坐下聊了一會兒。
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We talked for a little while.我們談了一會兒。
4
always used before a noun : not very important不太重要的 —
sometimes used in an ironic way to describe something important有時用作諷刺之意,形容某事很重要 5
always used before a noun : not easily seen, heard, etc.不易察覺的 -
He gave her a little smile.他朝她微微笑了一下。
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She made a little wave with her hand.她的手微微擺了一下。
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She spoke in a quiet little voice.她喃喃低語。
6 always used before a noun
a —
used to refer to someone or something in an approving or friendly way(用於贊同或友好地指稱某人或某物)可愛的,可憐的 -
That's a nice little car you've got there.你擁有的是一輛漂亮的小車。
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You poor little thing.你這可憐的東西。
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Bless your little heart.保佑你幼小的心靈。
b —
used to refer to someone or something in a disapproving or critical way(用於厭惡或批評地指稱某人或某物)討厭的,可惡的 -
He's a little jerk.他就是個傻蛋。
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It was a mean little joke.那是個低俗肮髒的笑話。
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She has a dirty little secret.她有個肮髒卑鄙的秘密。
7
always used before a noun : not open to new ideas狹隘的 — littleness
/ˈlɪtl̟nəs/ noun [noncount] 2 little /ˈlɪtl̟/ adverb
less; least
less; least
Learner's definition of LITTLE
1
a : in a very small amount or degree極少;輕微 b : hardly at all : not very much幾乎不 -
We had little more than we needed.我們僅夠基本所需。
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She cared little (about) what he thought.她極少關心他的想法。
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His art is little known in this country.他的藝術作品在這個國家鮮爲人知。
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a little-known fact幾乎不爲人知的事實
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She little knew what fate had in store for her. = Little did she know what fate had in store for her.她不知道等待她的是什麽命運。
little by little
: by small steps or amounts : gradually逐步地 -
Little by little, he got better.他逐漸好轉了。
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The protest gathered strength little by little.抗議的力量逐漸增強。
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I got to know them little by little.我逐步了解了他們。
little more than
or little better than
: not much more or better than (something) : only slightly more or better than (something)僅僅;只不過 3 little /ˈlɪtl̟/ pronoun
3 little
/ˈlɪtl̟/
pronoun
Learner's definition of LITTLE
: a small amount or quantity少許 -
There is little we can do to help.我們能幫的不多。
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Little is known about her life.她的生活鮮爲人知。
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They say precious little [=they do not say much] about their job.他們幾乎不談自己的工作。
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They understand little of what is going on.他們不太明白是怎麽回事。
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His argument did little to change their minds. [=his argument did not change their minds]他的爭辯沒怎麽改變他們的想法。
a little
1
: not much but some一點;一些 -
I don't want much: I want just a little bit/piece.我不想多要,只要一點點/一小塊。
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There's a little brown sugar in these cookies.這些餅幹裏放有少許紅糖。
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I have a little money, so I may be able to lend you some.我有點錢,所以可以借給你一些。
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They offered him a little something to drink before dinner. [=they offered him something to drink]他們晚飯前給他上了點飲料。
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There was more than a little sadness [=there was much sadness] in his voice.他的聲音中充滿着悲傷。
2
: not much but somewhat or slightly有點兒 -
It bothered me a little.這讓我有點煩惱。
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His house is down the street a little further.這條街往裏走一點就是他家。
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His house is down the street a little. = It's a little down the street.他家就在這條街往裏一點。
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I'm feeling a little better today.今天我感覺好點了。
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Repairs will begin in a little [=slightly] more than a month.修複工作將在一個月多一點後開始。
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He was not a little annoyed [=he was very annoyed] at the interruption.他很煩被人打斷。
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Her vision of the future was more than a little upsetting. [=was very upsetting]她對未來的設想使人感到很不安。
3
: for a brief time一陣子;一會兒 4
: a small amount or quantity少量 -
There is only a very little at stake here.這只有一點點風險。
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They don't understand much but they do understand a little.他們懂得不多,但確實懂一點兒。
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There's still some money in the bank, but only a very little.銀行裏還有些錢,但是不多。
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They understand more than a little of what is going on. [=they understand much of what is going on]他們非常明白事態的進展。
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Don't use too much of this. A little goes a long way. [=a small amount will be enough]别用太多,用一點就夠了。
a little bit
2
chiefly US : a short time一會兒 3
: a small amount of something少量 -
The buffet had a little bit of everything.餐櫃裏什麽東西都有點。
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We have a little bit of time left.我們的時間所剩無幾。
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Oh, I'll have just a little bit, thanks.哦,我只要一點兒,謝謝。
as little as
—
used to suggest that a number or quantity is surprisingly small區區;僅僅