軽微

• Reading: けいび
• Romaji: keibi
• Kanji breakdown: 軽 (kei) — light, slight; 微 (bi) — minute, slight, faint
• Pronunciation: /ke.i.bi/

Meaning

Slight; minor; insignificant. Describes something small in degree or impact.

A na-adjective typically used in formal or written contexts to downplay the severity of damage, injuries, or problems: 軽微な被害 (minor damage), 軽微な違反 (a minor violation). Often seen in news reports and official documents. Less colloquial than 小さい or 少ない.

Examples

1. 幸い被害は軽微なものだった。 Fortunately, the damage was only minor.
2. 軽微な修正だけで提出できる。 It can be submitted with just minor corrections.
3. 今回の事故による怪我は軽微だと報告された。 Injuries from this accident were reported as minor.

Usage Guide

Context: news, official reports, legal

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 軽 (kei, light/slight) and 微 (bi, minute/slight). Together, 'light and minute' — something negligibly small in scale or impact.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal