not very large, expensive, important, etc. 些许的；不太大（或太贵、太重要等）的 modest improvements/reforms 不太显著的改进／改革 He charged a relatively modest fee. 他收取的费用不算高。 She grew up in a modest little house in the suburbs. 她是在郊区一所简朴的小房子里长大的。 The research was carried out on a modest scale. 这个研究项目开展的规模不算太大。
Extra ExamplesHe is looking to improve on his relatively modest achievements so far. 目前他业绩平平，但他期待能有所进步。 Our requirements seem fairly modest. 我们的要求似乎并不过分。 The new homes are modest in scale, but very comfortable. 这些新住宅也就中等面积，但非常舒适。 The FTSE staged a modest recovery to be 6.5 points down. 富时指数小幅回升，下跌6.5点。 There has been a modest improvement in the situation. 形势有了些许的改善。 They live in modest comfort. 他们的生活还算舒适。 a modest aim/achievement/ambition/goal/success 不太高的目标；不显著的成就；不太大的抱负；不太高的目标；一般的成功 a modest contribution/expenditure/fee/gain/investment/outlay/profit/sum 不多的捐款／开支／收费／回报／投资／费用／利润／一笔钱 a modest size/amount/quantity/scale/share/proportion 不大的尺码／数额／数量／规模／一份／份额 modest premises 规模不大的营业场所
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- in
- (approving)
not talking much about your own abilities or possessions 谦虚的；谦逊的 Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesb2He is modest about his achievements. 他不夸耀自己的成就。 She would be falsely modest not to acknowledge that she had come a very long way since those early days. 不承认自己比以前有了很大的进步，她就是在故作谦虚。 Don't be so modest! You're a very talented player. 别太谦虚了！你是个很有才华的演奏家。 He was a quiet, modest man. 他是一个安静、谦虚的人。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- remain
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- about
(of people, especially women, or their clothes 人，尤指妇女或其衣着 shy about showing much of the body; not intended to attract attention, especially in a sexual way 庄重的；朴素的；不性感的 a modest dress 端庄的连衣裙
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from French modeste, from Latin modestus ‘keeping due measure’, related to modus ‘measure’.