微塵(みじん)

みじん
noun
tiny particle; slightest bit
quantity
1. tiny particle; fine fragment
An extremely small piece or particle. Often used in cooking to describe finely chopped ingredients (みじん切(ぎ)り).
玉(たま)ねぎを微塵(みじん)切(ぎ)りにする。
To mince the onion.
にんにくを微塵(みじん)切(ぎ)りにして炒(いた)める。
Mince the garlic and stir-fry it.
花瓶(かびん)が落(お)ちて微塵(みじん)に砕(くだ)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(かれ)には反省(はんせい)の色(いろ)が微塵(みじん)もない。
He doesn't show the slightest sign of remorse.
そんなこと微塵(みじん)も思(おも)わなかった。
I didn't think that at all.
疑(うたが)いの気持(きも)ちは微塵(みじん)もなく、彼女(かのじょ)を完全(かんぜん)に信(しん)じていた。
Without the slightest doubt, I completely trusted her.

Usage

Two main uses: (1) In cooking, 微塵(みじん)切(ぎ)り means finely minced or diced. (2) In the pattern 微塵(みじん)も〜ない, it emphasizes the complete absence of something. Both uses are very common.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 寸分(すんぶん) (a tiny bit)
general
Added 2026.3.22 19:41 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18652_mijin