Definition
小打小闹 is an idiomatic four-character expression used to describe small-scale, trivial, or unserious activities — often with a dismissive or modest tone. It can refer to doing something on a minor scale (like a small business, a minor skirmish, or casual tinkering) and contrasts with larger, more formal undertakings. The phrase is colloquial and frequently appears in everyday speech and informal writing.
idiom
small-scaleminorinsignificant (activities or operations)
Examples
- 小打小闹，。Tāmen kāi de gōngsī zhǐshì xiǎo dǎ xiǎo nào, méi shénme dà tóuzī.The company they started is just a small-scale operation with no big investment.
- 小打小闹，。Liǎng gè háizi xiǎo dǎ xiǎo nào de chǎo le jǐ jù, hěn kuài jiù hé hǎo le.The two kids had a minor squabble and made up quickly.
- 小打小闹，。Zhè zhǒng xiǎo dǎ xiǎo nào de huódòng, bùyòng qǐng tài duō rén.For this kind of small-scale event, we don't need to invite too many people.
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