# 不足挂齿

bù zú guà chǐ

Be too minor to mention

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Not worth placing on the teeth

**Traditional Chinese:** 不足掛齒

**Register:** Modest · conversational

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Politely downplay a favor or modest contribution.

Often courteous modesty; it does not literally deny all value.

## Understanding the expression

Teeth belong to the act of speaking, so something unworthy of reaching them is too small to discuss. The expression often answers thanks after a favor, allowing the helper to show modesty. It can also dismiss a trivial matter in comparison with something larger. Tone is important: downplaying one's own help is polite, while dismissing another person's contribution this way may sound belittling rather than gracious.

## Examples

只是帮你搬了个箱子，不足挂齿。

### Traditional Chinese

只是幫你搬了個箱子，不足掛齒。

zhǐ shì bāng nǐ bān le gè xiāng zǐ ， bù zú guà chǐ 。

I only helped move a box; it was nothing.

只是帮忙整理了书架，这点小事不足挂齿。

### Traditional Chinese

只是幫忙整理了書架，這點小事不足掛齒。

zhǐ shì bāng máng zhěng lǐ le shū jià ， zhè diǎn xiǎo shì bù zú guà chǐ 。

Helping organize the bookshelf was a small favor, hardly worth mentioning.

他笑着说那点捐款不足挂齿。

### Traditional Chinese

他笑著說那點捐款不足掛齒。

tā xiào zhe shuō nà diǎn juān kuǎn bù zú guà chǐ 。

He smiled and said his small donation was hardly worth mentioning.

举手之劳，不足挂齿，你别客气。

### Traditional Chinese

舉手之勞，不足掛齒，你別客氣。

jǔ shǒu zhī láo ， bù zú guà chǐ ， nǐ bié kè qì 。

It was an easy favor, nothing worth mentioning; do not worry about it.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E8%B6%B3%E6%8E%9B%E9%BD%92)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=409&webMd=1&la=0)

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