一点点

• Pinyin: yī diǎn diǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 一 = 'one'; 点 = 灬 (fire dots) + 占 (to divine), originally 'a spot/dot,' extended to 'a little'

Meaning

A tiny bit; a very small amount. Emphasises how little something is.

A more emphatic form of 一点 (a little), stressing that the amount is very small. Common in spoken Chinese. Can be used for quantities, degrees, or progress. The reduplication of 点 makes it feel smaller and often more colloquial.

Examples

1. 我只会说一点点中文。 I can only speak a tiny bit of Chinese.
2. 再给我一点点时间。 Give me just a little more time.
3. 今天比昨天好了一点点。 Today is a tiny bit better than yesterday.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我饿了，想吃一点点东西。(I'm hungry — I want to eat a tiny bit of something.)
• 他一点点地进步了。(He improved little by little.)

Don't Say

• 他一点点很高。(Don't use 一点点 before adjectives without 比 — say 他比我高一点点, not 他一点点很高.)

Origin & History

Formed by reduplicating 点 in 一点 (a little bit). Reduplication is a common Chinese intensification and softening strategy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal