微乎其微 wēi hū qí wēi insignificant

Explanation

形容数量极少，不值得一提。

Describes a very small quantity, not worth mentioning.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个偏远的小山村里，住着一位名叫阿牛的年轻人。阿牛为人善良，勤劳朴实，但他所拥有的土地却少得可怜，仅够勉强维持生计。相传，阿牛家的祖上曾是一位名医，留下了许多珍贵的医术典籍。然而，这些典籍经过岁月的洗礼，早已残缺不全，只有寥寥数页还能勉强辨认。阿牛虽然没有继承祖上的医术，但他对这些残缺的医书却倍加珍惜。他常常对着医书苦思冥想，试图从中找到一些有用的信息。有一天，阿牛偶然发现了一张残缺不全的药方，上面只写着几种药材的名称和极少的剂量。阿牛根据自己的经验和对药材的了解，尝试着配制这种药方。经过多次试验，他终于配制出了一种疗效显著的药方，这种药方能够治疗一种当地常见的顽疾。阿牛的药方一经传出，便受到了村民们的广泛欢迎。一时间，远近的病人纷纷前来求医，阿牛也因此成为了远近闻名的名医。虽然阿牛的贡献在整个国家来看微乎其微，但他却用自己的努力和智慧，为自己的家乡带来了福祉。

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, zài yīgè piānyuǎn de xiǎoshān cūn li, zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào ā niú de nián qīng rén. ā niú wéi rén shànliáng, qínláo pǔshí, dàn tā suǒ yǒngyǒu de tǔdì què shǎo de kělián, jǐn gòu miǎnqiǎng wéichí shēngjì. xiāng chuán, ā niú jiā de zǔ shàng céng shì yī wèi míng yī, liú xià le xǔduō zhēnguì de yīshù diǎnjǐ. rán'ér, zhèxiē diǎnjǐ jīngguò suìyuè de xǐlǐ, zǎo yǐ cánquē bù quán, zhǐyǒu liáoliáo shù yè hái néng miǎnqiǎng biànrèn. ā niú suīrán méiyǒu jìchéng zǔ shàng de yīshù, dàn tā duì zhèxiē cánquē de yīshū què bèi jiā zhēnxī. tā chángcháng duì zhe yīshū kǔ sī míngxiǎng, shìtú cóng zhōng zhǎodào yīxiē yǒuyòng de xìnxī. yǒu yī tiān, ā niú ǒurán fāxiàn le yī zhāng cánquē bù quán de yàofāng, shàngmiàn zhǐ xiě zhe jǐ zhǒng yàocái de míngchēng hé jí shǎo de jìliàng. ā niú gēnjù zìjǐ de jīngyàn hé duì yàocái de liǎojiě, chángshì zhe pèizhì zhè zhǒng yàofāng. jīngguò duō cì shìyàn, tā zhōngyú pèizhì chū le yī zhǒng liáoxiào xiǎnzhù de yàofāng, zhè zhǒng yàofāng nénggòu zhìliáo yī zhǒng dà dì chángjiàn de wánjí. ā niú de yàofāng yī jīng chuán chū, biàn shòudào le cūnmínmen de guǎngfàn huānyíng. yī shí jiān, yuǎnjìn de bìngrén fēnfēn qǐng lái qiú yī, ā niú yě yīncǐ chéngwéi le yuǎnjìn wénmíng de míng yī. suīrán ā niú de gòngxiàn zài zhěnggè guójiā lái kàn wēi hū qí wēi, dàn tā què yòng zìjǐ de nǔlì hé zhìhuì, wèi zìjǐ de jiāxiāng dài lái le fǔzhí.

Long ago, in a remote mountain village, lived a young man named An Niu. An Niu was kind, hardworking, and simple, but the land he owned was pitifully small, barely enough to make ends meet. Legend has it that An Niu's ancestors were a famous doctor who left behind many precious medical texts. However, these texts, after years of weathering, were already incomplete, with only a few pages barely legible. Although An Niu did not inherit his ancestors' medical skills, he treasured these incomplete medical books. He often pondered over the medical books, trying to find some useful information. One day, An Niu accidentally discovered an incomplete prescription, showing only the names of several herbs and very little dosage. Based on his experience and knowledge of herbs, An Niu attempted to prepare this prescription. After many experiments, he finally produced a highly effective prescription, which could cure a common disease in the local area. Once An Niu's prescription was spread, it was widely welcomed by the villagers. For a time, patients from far and near came to seek medical treatment, and An Niu became a famous doctor. Although An Niu's contribution was insignificant in the whole country, he brought well-being to his hometown with his efforts and wisdom.

Usage

用于形容数量、程度极小。

yòng yú xíngróng shùliàng chéngdù jí xiǎo

Used to describe a very small quantity or degree.

Examples

• 他为人民所做的贡献微乎其微。

  tā wèi rénmín suǒ zuò de gòngxiàn wēi hū qí wēi

  His contribution to the people is insignificant.

• 在这次比赛中，他的优势微乎其微。

  zài zhè cì bǐsài zhōng, tā de yōushì wēi hū qí wēi

  His advantage in this competition is negligible

Related Idioms

• 微不足道

• 微小

Opposite Idioms

• 举足轻重

• 硕大无朋