袖珍

• Pinyin: xiù zhēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 袖 = 衤 (clothing) + 由 (from), meaning sleeve; 珍 = 王 (jade) + 㐱 (rare), meaning precious

Meaning

Pocket-sized; miniature; compact. Small enough to fit in a pocket or be easily carried.

Originally meant items small enough to hide in a sleeve (袖). Now used for any compact version of something: 袖珍词典 (pocket dictionary), 袖珍版 (pocket edition), 袖珍计算器 (pocket calculator). Also used figuratively for small countries or compact things.

Examples

1. 出国旅游带本袖珍词典很方便。 Bringing a pocket dictionary when traveling abroad is very convenient.
2. 这款袖珍相机虽然小，功能却很全。 Although this pocket camera is small, it has full functionality.
3. 摩纳哥是欧洲的袖珍国家，但经济非常发达。 Monaco is a pocket-sized European country, but its economy is very developed.

Usage Guide

Context: products, technology, publishing

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这是袖珍版的。(This is the pocket edition.)
• 有没有袖珍型的？(Do you have a pocket-sized version?)

Don't Say

• 袖珍的房子 — 房子太大不能说袖珍，应说'小户型'或'迷你公寓'，袖珍强调可携带或放入口袋

Origin & History

Compound of 袖 (sleeve) + 珍 (precious, treasure). Originally referred to precious items small enough to be carried in one's sleeve.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal