Smaller Meaning(定義、用法、例句與發音)

smaller

adjective

快速理解

What does "Smaller" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Smaller"?

「smaller」是形容詞「small」的比較級,主要用於比較兩個或多個事物的大小、規模或程度。

  1. 1

    尺寸較小

    EN: of a reduced size or dimensions

    翻譯: 指物理尺寸或體積比另一個事物更小。

  2. 2

    數量或程度較少

    EN: less in amount, degree, or intensity

    翻譯: 指數量、規模、程度或重要性上較低或較不顯著。

  3. 3

    規模較小

    EN: reduced in scope, scale, or extent

    翻譯: 指組織、活動、企業等的規模或範圍較小。

  4. 4

    較年輕或較不重要

    EN: younger or of lesser importance

    翻譯: 用於家庭中指較年幼的成員,或用於指重要性較低的事物。

小提醒:「smaller」是規則比較級,直接在「small」後加「-er」。注意它只用於比較兩者,三者或以上的最高級是「smallest」。

發音(How to Pronounce "Smaller" in English

How to pronounce "Smaller" in English?"Smaller" US vs UK pronunciation

點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。

Real-life Examples of "Smaller" from YouTube Videos

Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons

TED

We need to make the world a smaller place, And I think that we can develop some tools to do so, And one of the tools I like personally is using video.

(1 out of 96)

Definitions(定義)

What are the definitions of "Smaller"?How does "Smaller" change by context?

1. comparative of small: of a size that is less than another or than the average

(small 的比較級)較小的;更小的

My apartment is smaller than yours.

我的公寓比你的小。

She chose the smaller piece of cake.

她選了比較小的那塊蛋糕。

The company is looking for a smaller office space.

公司正在尋找一個較小的辦公空間。

2. younger (used especially when referring to a sibling)

(尤指兄弟姐妹中)較年幼的

My smaller brother just started school.

我弟弟剛開始上學。

She always looked out for her smaller sister.

她總是照顧她妹妹。

3. less important, significant, or influential

較不重要的;影響力較小的

He played a smaller role in the project's success.

他在專案的成功中扮演了較小的角色。

These are smaller issues that we can deal with later.

這些是我們可以稍後處理的較小問題。

4. reduced in amount, degree, or intensity

(數量、程度或強度)減少的;降低的

There is a smaller chance of rain tomorrow.

明天下雨的機率較小。

After the discount, we paid a smaller amount.

折扣後,我們付了較少的錢。

Grammar & Patterns(句型)

What are common sentence patterns for "Smaller"?How to make natural sentences with "Smaller"?
PatternMeaningExample
smaller + than + noun/pronoun比…小/少This room is **smaller than** the other one. (這個房間比另一個小。)
get/grow/become smaller變得更小The population is gradually **becoming smaller**. (人口正逐漸變少。)
a smaller + noun一個較小的…We need to find **a smaller apartment**. (我們需要找一間較小的公寓。)
the smaller of the two兩者中較小的那個He chose **the smaller of the two** portions. (他選擇了兩份中較小的那一份。)
no smaller than不小於…The new model is **no smaller than** the old one. (新款的尺寸並不比舊款小。)
make something smaller使某物變小Can you **make the font smaller**? (你能把字體調小嗎?)

用法說明

How is "Smaller" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Smaller"?

smaller than vs. smaller to

  • smaller than 用於直接比較兩個具體的人、事物或概念,指出其中一個在尺寸、數量、程度或重要性上「小於」另一個。這是標準的比較級結構。
  • smaller to 在標準英語中並非正確的比較結構。它可能出現在非正式口語中,意圖表達「對...來說更小」或「在...看來更小」,但應避免在正式寫作中使用。
  • 若要表達「對某人而言顯得更小」,應使用 seem smaller to someonelook smaller to someone 等結構。
  • 在表示「減少到某個較小的數值」時,會使用 reduce to a smaller number,這裡的 to 是介系詞,引導目的地或結果,而非比較的一部分。 EN: My new apartment is smaller than my old one. 翻譯: 我的新公寓比舊的那間要小。

EN:The task seemed smaller to him after we explained the steps.

翻譯:在我們解釋步驟後,這項任務在他看來變簡單(顯得較小)了。

總結建議

在進行比較時,一律使用「smaller than」;若要表達「在某人看來更小」,則使用「seems/looks smaller to someone」。

易混淆對比

What is the difference between "Smaller" and similar words?How to choose "Smaller" vs alternatives?

smaller vs less

「smaller」用於比較具體事物的尺寸或數量(可數),「less」則用於比較不可數的量或抽象概念。

smaller vs shorter

「smaller」指整體尺寸或規模較小,「shorter」專指長度較短或高度較矮。

smaller vs minor

「smaller」側重物理尺寸或數量的比較,「minor」則強調重要性、嚴重性或程度的較低。

口語用法

How is "Smaller" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Smaller"?

引述

在轉述他人比較或提出自己的看法時,常用來緩和語氣。 EN: He said his apartment is smaller than mine, but I haven't seen it yet. 翻譯: 他說他的公寓比我的,但我還沒看過。

EN:I think a smaller portion would be better for the kids.

翻譯:我覺得給孩子們小一點的份量會比較好。

語氣強調

與「much」、「a lot」、「even」等詞連用,加強比較的程度或表達驚訝。 EN: This new model is much smaller and more efficient. 翻譯: 這個新機型小得多,而且效率更高。

EN:Wait, your phone is even smaller than I remembered!

翻譯:等等,你的手機比我想像的還要小!

停頓填充

在思考或尋找合適詞語時,用來暫時填充對話空白,常伴隨猶豫語氣詞。 EN: I'm looking for a... smaller... maybe a compact version of this bag. 翻譯: 我在找一個…小一點的…或許是這個包的緊湊版。

EN:The room felt, um, smaller with all the furniture in it.

翻譯:那個房間放了所有家具後感覺,嗯,更小了。

正式寫作注意:在學術或正式書面報告中,應避免使用上述口語中的停頓填充用法。直接、明確地陳述比較結果,例如使用「significantly smaller」或「comparatively smaller」等更精確的表述。

常見短語

What common collocations use "Smaller"?What fixed phrases with "Smaller" should I remember?

smaller than

smaller than [noun]

比...更小

get smaller

[subject] get(s) smaller

變小、縮小

on a smaller scale

on a smaller scale

以較小的規模

smaller portion

a smaller portion (of)

較小的一份、較少的份量

smaller version

a smaller version (of)

較小的版本、縮小版

a smaller number of

a smaller number of [plural noun]

數量較少的...

feel smaller

[subject] feel(s) smaller

感覺自己渺小、感到相形見絀

常見錯誤

What are common mistakes with "Smaller"?Which "Smaller" sentences look correct but are wrong?

×This room is smaller that one.

This room is smaller than that one.

比較級形容詞 'smaller' 後面必須接 'than' 來引導比較的對象,不能省略或用其他介系詞替代。

×This box is more smaller.

This box is smaller.

'smaller' 已經是比較級形式(small → smaller),前面不能再加 'more' 來構成比較級,這是重複的錯誤。

×I have smaller money than you.

I have less money than you.

'smaller' 主要用於描述具體事物的體積、尺寸或規模(可數)。描述不可數名詞(如 money, time, water)的「量」較少時,應使用 'less'。

×He lives in smaller house.

He lives in a smaller house.

當 'smaller' 修飾單數可數名詞(如 house, car, room)時,前面必須加上不定冠詞 'a' 或定冠詞 'the',不能省略。

×I want a size smaller.

I want a smaller size.

形容詞 'smaller' 通常放在它所修飾的名詞前面(如 a smaller size, a smaller portion)。將 'smaller' 放在名詞後面的語序是錯誤的。

×My smaller brother is 10 years old.

My younger brother is 10 years old.

描述人的年齡較小(兄弟姊妹)時,應使用 'younger'。'smaller' 主要用於描述物理尺寸、體積或規模,不用於年齡比較。

詞形變化

What are the word forms of "Smaller"?What are tense/participle forms of "Smaller"?