<blockquote>
<p>Can I translate grow smaller to 长小？</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The verb 'grow (长)' mostly mean 'become older or bigger'</p>
<p>Although 'grow smaller' literally means '长小', but 'grow' in 'grow smaller' actually means 'to develop into'. We translate 'grow smaller' to '变小' (become smaller) to avoid confusing 发展  (grow/ develop/ become) with 生长/ 成長 (grow)</p>
<p>长小 is not acceptable</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-14T07:42:04.737Z
2021-04-14T17:23:06.057Z
2021-04-14T17:23:06.057Z
Tang Ho
<p>Either 變小 /bian4 xiao3/ or 縮小 /suo1 xiao3/ (to shrink)。</p>
<p>*長小 is a bit of an oxymoron. 長大 or 長高 is OK, but never *長小 or *長矮。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-14T19:08:33.763Z
2021-04-14T19:08:33.763Z
monalisa
<p>no, we never say that. you can say &quot;变小&quot; or &quot;变大&quot; but &quot;长小&quot; is not valid.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-14T16:03:21.490Z
2021-04-14T16:03:21.490Z
Fang Guo
<p>It is better to translate as <code>变小</code>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-14T12:51:40.743Z
2021-04-14T12:51:40.743Z
showkey
<p><a href="https://archive.org/stream/Asimovs_v13n13_1989-12-Mid/Asimovs_v13n13_1989-12-Mid_djvu.txt" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://archive.org/stream/Asimovs_v13n13_1989-12-Mid/Asimovs_v13n13_1989-12-Mid_djvu.txt</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>She watched the miniaturization procedure (she had seen it before) and
saw Mike <strong>grow smaller</strong> and disappear.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Can I translate <em>grow smaller</em> to 长小？</p>

<translation>
grow smaller 长小
# grow smaller 长小

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-14)

<https://archive.org/stream/Asimovs_v13n13_1989-12-Mid/Asimovs_v13n13_1989-12-Mid_djvu.txt>

> She watched the miniaturization procedure (she had seen it before) and
> saw Mike **grow smaller** and disappear.

Can I translate *grow smaller* to 长小？

**Tags:** translation


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-14. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> Can I translate grow smaller to 长小？

The verb 'grow (长)' mostly mean 'become older or bigger'

Although 'grow smaller' literally means '长小', but 'grow' in 'grow smaller' actually means 'to develop into'. We translate 'grow smaller' to '变小' (become smaller) to avoid confusing 发展 (grow/ develop/ become) with 生长/ 成長 (grow)

长小 is not acceptable


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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-14. Score: 0

Either 變小 /bian4 xiao3/ or 縮小 /suo1 xiao3/ (to shrink)。

\*長小 is a bit of an oxymoron. 長大 or 長高 is OK, but never \*長小 or \*長矮。


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-04-14. Score: 0

no, we never say that. you can say "变小" or "变大" but "长小" is not valid.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2021-04-14. Score: 0

It is better to translate as `变小`.


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