1.
tiny particle; fine fragment
An extremely small piece or particle. Often used in cooking to describe finely chopped ingredients (みじん切り).
玉ねぎを微塵切りにする。
To mince the onion.
にんにくを微塵切りにして炒める。
Mince the garlic and stir-fry it.
花瓶が落ちて微塵に砕けた。
The vase fell and shattered into tiny pieces.
2.
the slightest bit; not at all (in negative expressions)
Used with negative expressions to emphasize the complete absence of something — not even the tiniest amount.
彼には反省の色が微塵もない。
He doesn't show the slightest sign of remorse.
そんなこと微塵も思わなかった。
I didn't think that at all.
疑いの気持ちは微塵もなく、彼女を完全に信じていた。
Without the slightest doubt, I completely trusted her.
USAGE:
Two main uses: (1) In cooking, 微塵切り means finely minced or diced. (2) In the pattern 微塵も〜ない, it emphasizes the complete absence of something. Both uses are very common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 微塵切り (mincing, finely diced)
- 微塵も〜ない (not the slightest ~)
- 微塵に砕ける (to shatter into fragments)
- 微塵も感じない (not to feel in the slightest)