smallness

smallness — noun

1. the state of being below the usual size, number, or quantity that people expect.

1.名詞B1
釋義

the state of being below the usual size, number, or quantity that people expect.

例句

Aoi was surprised by the smallness of the apartment she had rented.

the smallness of [something]

The smallness of the font made the document difficult for Iris to read.

同義詞
  • tininess

    more extreme than smallness; suggests something is surprisingly or notably tiny

  • compactness

    positive connotation; implies efficient use of limited space rather than lack of size

  • petiteness

    only used for a person's body size, especially when considered delicate or attractive

反義詞
  • largeness

    the opposite in both physical size and scale

  • enormity

    extreme opposite, usually with a sense of being shockingly large

文法句型

the smallness of [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Often paired with an of-phrase that specifies the thing being measured: the smallness of a room, the smallness of a population, the smallness of a budget.

常見錯誤

❌The small of the room surprised me.
✅The smallness of the room surprised me.
💡'small' is an adjective; 'smallness' is the noun form needed here.

2. the quality of being unimpressive, inadequate, or lacking the scope or impact th

2.名詞B2
釋義

the quality of being unimpressive, inadequate, or lacking the scope or impact that is expected or needed.

例句

Critics pointed out the smallness of the government's plan to address climate change.

smallness of [a plan/proposal/effort]

Gabriel felt embarrassed by the smallness of his role in the research project.

同義詞
  • insignificance

    stronger than smallness; implies something is not worth noticing at all

  • triviality

    suggests something is not just small but unimportant or petty

  • inadequacy

    focuses on failing to meet a needed standard

反義詞

文法句型

the smallness of [abstract noun]

用法筆記

Common in formal or critical writing when judging plans, budgets, donations, or efforts as falling short of reasonable expectations. Avoid in casual conversation, where 'too small' is more natural.

常見錯誤

❌The smallness of his salary made him quit.
✅The smallness of his salary pushed him to look for a new job.
💡The noun form 'smallness' fits formal registers; in everyday speech, 'His salary was too small, so he quit' reads more naturally.

3. a painful emotional state in which a person feels worthless, weak, or ashamed, o

3.名詞C1
釋義

a painful emotional state in which a person feels worthless, weak, or ashamed, often when comparing themselves to something greater or more powerful.

例句

Standing before the vast ocean, Greta was overcome by a profound sense of smallness.

sense of smallness — emotional/psychological use

After losing his job, David struggled with a feeling of smallness that kept him from seeing friends.

同義詞
  • worthlessness

    stronger; implies a belief that one has no value at all

  • inadequacy

    overlaps with sense 2 but here focuses on personal self-doubt rather than objective insufficiency

  • humility

    positive counterpart; carries a sense of modest self-awareness without shame

反義詞
  • pride

    a feeling of satisfaction in one's own worth or achievements

  • confidence

    belief in one's own abilities, the opposite of feeling weak

文法句型

(a) sense/feeling of smallness

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (physical size) and sense 2 (inadequate scale), this sense describes an internal emotional reaction. It frequently appears with 'sense of' or 'feeling of' and is used in literary or reflective writing rather than casual speech.

常見錯誤

❌The smallness of the house made me sad.' (ambiguous — could be physical or emotional)
✅Standing in the empty house, I felt a strange smallness, as if I did not belong there.
💡Use context that clearly signals the emotional meaning.