微塵
Meaning in Englishparticle, atom
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
微塵 means a tiny particle or speck; used to express extreme minuteness or insignificance, including in negative constructions such as not a speck at all.
Main meanings
- Literal sense: a small particle or fragment of dust
- Idiomatic use: emphasizes extreme minuteness, as in not a speck
- Literary or religious usage: common in classical Buddhist and literary prose
- Figurative use: denotes lack of influence or importance, as in a context where something has no impact
How to use it
Used as a noun to denote a minuscule particle; in everyday speech it appears primarily in fixed phrases and literary or formal writing; used in negative constructions to stress the absence of even a small amount, and in philosophical or religious contexts to convey minuteness.
Variants and close terms
- みじん (mijin) — standard reading
- きょくしょう (kyokushou) — extremely small
- びさい (bisai) — minute, fine
Composition
- 微 tiny, fine; indicates smallness or minuteness
- 塵 dust, dirt; a tiny particle
- Together they form a compound meaning a microscopic dust particle or speck; often used metaphorically for something perceived as negligible
Origin
Borrowed from Chinese, 微塵 has long history in Japanese literature and Buddhist text traditions, with increased usage in classical and later periods; in modern language it survives mainly through fixed expressions and formal writing.
Word class
noun (名詞)