Of the three, 略微 lüèwéi略微 lüèwēi is the most flexible — 微 wéi微 wēi and 略 lüè tend to lock into set phrases you’ll want to learn as whole chunks.
1 微 wéi微 wēi — “Slightly, Faintly” (Bound)
Mostly appears in set compounds — 微不足道 wéibùzúdào微不足道 wēibùzúdào, 微涼 wéiliáng微凉 wēiliáng — or reduplicated as 微微 wéiwéi微微 wēiwēi.
她微感不適，決定提早回家休息她微感不适，决定提早回家休息
She felt slightly unwell and decided to go home early to rest.
這件小事微不足道，不用放在心上这件小事微不足道，不用放在心上
This is such a trivial matter, don’t take it to heart.
天氣微涼，記得多帶件外套天气微凉，记得多带件外套
The weather is slightly cool, remember to bring an extra jacket.
他微微一笑，沒有多說什麼他微微一笑，没有多说什么
He smiled slightly and didn’t say much more.
夜裡微有涼意，她加了件薄外套夜里微有凉意，她加了件薄外套
There was a faint chill at night, so she added a thin jacket.
2 略 lüè — “Slightly, Briefly” (Fixed Phrases)
Favors set collocations: 略知一二略知一二 lüè zhī yī èr, 略有 lüè yǒu, 略感 lüè gǎn.
對於這個領域，我只是略知一二对于这个领域，我只是略知一二
In this field, I only know a little bit.
這個提案略有不足，需要再修改这个提案略有不足，需要再修改
This proposal has slight shortcomings and needs revision.
經過一晚休息，他略感疲憊已經消退经过一晚休息，他略感疲惫已经消退
After a night’s rest, his slight fatigue has already faded.
她對這件事略有耳聞她对这件事略有耳闻
She’s heard a little something about this matter.
他略帶懷疑地看著我他略带怀疑地看着我
He looked at me with a slight hint of suspicion.
3 略微 lüèwéi略微 lüèwēi — “Slightly” (Free Form)
The written, formal cousin of 稍微 shāowéi稍微 shāowēi — freely combines with almost any verb or adjective.
這次的漲幅略微超過預期这次的涨幅略微超过预期
This increase slightly exceeded expectations.
請把音量略微調低一些请把音量略微调低一些
Please turn the volume down slightly.
他的病情略微好轉他的病情略微好转
His condition has improved slightly.
溫度是否略微上升了？温度是否略微上升了？
Has the temperature risen slightly?
他略微皺了皺眉頭，似乎不太滿意他略微皱了皱眉头，似乎不太满意
He frowned slightly, seeming not very satisfied.
| Word | Meaning | Combinability |
|---|
| 微 wéi微 wēi |
Slightly, faintly |
Bound — set compounds only |
| 略 lüè |
Slightly, briefly |
Semi-fixed — 略知 lüè zhī/略有 lüè yǒu/略感 lüè gǎn + word |
| 略微 lüèwéi略微 lüèwēi |
Slightly |
Free — combines with almost anything |
4 Common Mistake
略 lüè alone favors its fixed literary collocations — tacking it in front of an ordinary emotion word the way you’d use 稍微 shāowéi稍微 shāowēi sounds unnatural.
❌
他略高興他略高兴
✅
他略微高興他略微高兴
略 lüè by itself leans on fixed collocations like 略知略知 lüè zhī or 略有略有 lüè yǒu. For a freer “slightly” in front of an everyday adjective, use 略微 lüèwéi略微 lüèwēi or 稍微 shāowéi稍微 shāowēi instead.
5 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01This matter is so trivial, don’t worry about it.
這件事微不足道，別擔心这件事微不足道，别担心
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02I only know a little bit about this topic.
關於這個話題，我只是略知一二关于这个话题，我只是略知一二
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03The price has slightly dropped compared to last month.
跟上個月相比，價格略微下降跟上个月相比，价格略微下降
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04She smiled faintly, then walked away.
她微微一笑，然後轉身離開她微微一笑，然后转身离开
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05He has heard a little about this incident.
他對這起事件略有耳聞他对这起事件略有耳闻
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06Is his fever slightly reduced?
他的燒略微退了嗎？他的烧略微退了吗？
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07This wine has a faintly sweet flavor.
這款酒帶著微甜的口感这款酒带着微甜的口感
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08The company’s profits have slightly declined this quarter.
這季公司的獲利略微下滑这季公司的获利略微下滑
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09This kind of small mistake is trivial, don’t blame yourself.
這種小失誤微不足道，別自責这种小失误微不足道，别自责
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10He knows a little about this software, but not much.
他對這款軟體略知一二，但了解不深他对这款软件略知一二，但了解不深
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