區區

區區 (ideophonic)

1. insignificant; trifling; small; negligible

   • 然秦以區區之地，致萬乘之勢，序八州而朝同列，百有餘年矣。
     然秦以区区之地，致万乘之势，序八州而朝同列，百有余年矣。

     From: c. late 1st century BCE, Jia Yi (賈誼), On the Crimes of Qin (《過秦上》)

     Rán Qín yǐ qūqū zhī dì, zhì wànshèng zhī shì, xù bāzhōu ér cháo tóngliè, bǎi yǒuyú nián yǐ.

     Qin, beginning with an insignificant amount of territory, reached the power of a great state and for a hundred years made all the other great lords pay homage to it.

   • 於是與客俱起，握手大笑曰：「置之，區區不足較也。」
     于是与客俱起，握手大笑曰：「置之，区区不足较也。」

     From: 1070 October 13, Ouyang Xiu, Biography of the Retired Scholar of Six Ones (《六一居士傳》), translated by Ronald C. Egan

     Yúshì yǔ kè jù qǐ, wòshǒu dàxiào yuē: “Zhì zhī, qūqū bùzú jiào yě.”

     Saying this, the scholar arose with the visitor, clasping him by the arms and laughing loudly, ‘Never mind, never mind! Let us not quibble over such trifling matters.’

2. (literary) sincere; devoted; genuine; solicitous

   • 何以致區區？耳中雙明珠。
     何以致区区？耳中双明珠。

     From: c. late Han Dynasty, 繁欽 (Pó Qīn),《定情詩》, transl. Xu Yuanchong

     Héyǐ zhì qūqū? Ěr zhōng shuāng míngzhū.

     How to express our feelings deer?
     Two bright pearls hanging from the ear.

   • 無由會晤，不任區區向往之至。
     无由会晤，不任区区向往之至。

     From: 1070, Wang Anshi（王安石）, A Reply to Sima Guang (《答司馬諫議書》)

     Wúyóu huìwù, bùrèn qūqū xiàngwǎng zhī zhì.

     Unable to convey this face to face, I submit it devotedly and with great respect.

3. (literary) complacent; self-satisfied; contented

   • 今亂世之君臣，區區然皆擅一國之利，而管一官之重，以便其私，此國之所以危也。
     今乱世之君臣，区区然皆擅一国之利，而管一官之重，以便其私，此国之所以危也。

     From: The Book of Lord Shang, circa 3^rd century BCE

     Jīn luànshì zhī jūnchén, qūqūrán jiē shàn yīguó zhī lì, ér guǎn yī guān zhī zhòng, yǐ biàn qí sī, cǐ guó zhīsuǒyǐ wēi yě.

     Nowadays, those self-satisfied princes and ministers in this disorderly world each in his own way, appropriates the profits of his own state, and each exercises his own office for his private benefit, which explains why the states are in a perilous position.

   • 噫嘻，區區而自言，不知者又將以為自譽以求人之知己也。惟執事思其十年之心如是之不偶然也而察之！
     噫嘻，区区而自言，不知者又将以为自誉以求人之知己也。惟执事思其十年之心如是之不偶然也而察之！

     From: 1056, Su Xun, 《上歐陽內翰書》

     Yīxī, qūqū ér zì yán, bùzhī zhě yòu jiāng yǐwèi zì yù yǐ qiú rén zhī zhī jǐ yě. Wéi zhíshì sī qí shínián zhī xīn rúshì zhī bù ǒurán yě ér chá zhī!

     Ah! As I dare to speak of myself contentedly, the ignorant will probably think that I am bragging in order to gain recognition... May Your Excellency reflect on the fact that this decade-long devotion is by no means accidental matter and judge it accordingly!

4. (literary) ordinary; clumsy; foolish

   • 阿母謂府吏：“何乃太區區？”
     阿母谓府吏：“何乃太区区？”

     From: Anonymous,《古詩為焦仲卿妻作》in The New Songs from the Jade Terrace, compiled in c. mid-6th century, translated by Yang Xianyi & Gladys Yang

     Āmǔ wèi fǔlì: “Hénǎi tài qūqū?”

     To which the shrewish mother made reply,
     “Dull are your wits and foolish, O my son!”

   • 司天言：「歲不利用兵。」崇滔日：「古者命將，鑿凶門而出。況成算已決，區區常談，豈足信也？」
     司天言：「岁不利用兵。」崇滔日：「古者命将，凿凶门而出。况成算已决，区区常谈，岂足信也？」

     From: The Historical Records of the Five Dynasties, 1053 CE, translated based on Richard L. Davis's version

     Sītiān yán: “Suì bùlì yòngbīng.” Chóngtāo rì: “Gǔzhě mìngjiàng, záo xiōng mén ér chū. Kuàng chéngsuàn yǐ jué, qūqū chángtán, qǐ zú xìn yě?”

     The astrologer indicated, "The year is not propitious for military deployments." Guo Chongtao interjected, "In ancient times, if commanders received mandates, they axed down the inauspicious northern door for their departure. Now that our decisive strategy has been settled, how can these trivial conventional remarks be trusted?

5. (literary) toiling; hard-working

   • 昨日武昌寄居王殿直天麟見過，偶說一事，聞之酸辛，為食不下。念非吾康叔之賢，莫足告語，故專遣此人。俗人區區，了眼前事，救過不暇，豈有餘力及此度外事乎？
     昨日武昌寄居王殿直天麟见过，偶说一事，闻之酸辛，为食不下。念非吾康叔之贤，莫足告语，故专遣此人。俗人区区，了眼前事，救过不暇，岂有余力及此度外事乎？

     From: 1082, Su Shi,《與朱鄂州書》, translated based on Lin Yutang's version

     Zuórì Wǔchāng jìjū Wáng diànzhí Tiānlín jiàn guò, ǒu shuō yī shì, wén zhī suānxīn, wèi shí bùxià. Niàn fēi wú Kāngshū zhī xián, mò zú gàoyǔ, gù zhuān qiǎn cǐ rén. Súrén qūqū, le yǎnqián shì, jiù guò bùxiá, qǐ yǒu yúlì jí cǐ dùwài shì hū?

     Yesterday Wang Tianlin, now living in Wuchang, came to see me. He told me a very touching story, and after hearing it I could not eat. I think I can only bring this to the attention of someone as worthy as you, and am therefore dispatching this letter to you through Mr. Wang. Other people might be too busy with their own affairs to be able to attend to something which does not directly concern them.

區區

1. (literary) country

   • 咄！此區區者果何物，而顧使之操縱我心如轉蓬哉？
     咄！此区区者果何物，而顾使之操纵我心如转蓬哉？

     From: 1902, Liang Qichao（梁啟超）, 《新民説•論自由》, which has an abridged translation by Herbert A. Giles

     Duō! Cǐ qūqū zhě guǒ héwù, ér gù shǐ zhī cāozòng wǒ xīn rú zhuǎnpéng zāi?

     Alas! What kind of entity is this country (China) that it should manipulate my heart as much as the wind tosses tumbleweed?

區區

1. (literary, humble) I; me

   • 臣無祖母，無以至今日；祖母無臣，無以終餘年。母孫二人，更相為命，是以區區不能廢遠。
     臣无祖母，无以至今日；祖母无臣，无以终余年。母孙二人，更相为命，是以区区不能废远。

     From: 267, 李密 (Li Mi),《陳情表》, translated by Luo Jingguo（罗经国）

     Chén wú zǔmǔ, wúyǐ zhì jīnrì; zǔmǔ wú chén, wúyǐ zhōng yúnián. Mǔ sūn èrrén, gēngxiāng wéimìng, shìyǐ qūqū bùnéng fèi yuǎn.

     But for her, I would not have become what I am today. But for me, she would have been long dead. It is because the two of us depend upon each other that I, your humble servant, cannot leave home at present.

• 莆田市政协文化文史和学习委员会 , editor (2021), “区区”, in 莆仙方言大词典 (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), Xiamen University Press, →ISBN, page 118.