Petite is an adjective, borrowed from French, for a woman or girl who is short and slim in a way people often call neat or pretty. It is about a small build, not about being a child, and not about being weak.

Petite is an adjective, borrowed from Frenchpetite是一個從法文借來的形容詞 for a woman or girl用來形容一個女生 who is short and slim身材嬌小、纖細 in a way people often call neat or pretty這種樣子常被說是清爽或漂亮 It is about a small build這講的是身材小巧 not about being a child不是說她是小孩 and not about being weak也不是說她虛弱

You meet it in fashion more than in science: “petite sizes” on a clothes rack are cut for shorter women — a higher waist, a shorter sleeve. Though actually, petite on a label does not always mean thin; it mainly means short.

You meet it in fashion more than in science你比較會在時尚領域遇到這個字，而不是科學裡 'petite sizes' on a clothes rack衣架上的「petite sizes」（小號） are cut for shorter women是為身高較矮的女性設計的 a higher waist, a shorter sleeve腰線比較高、袖子比較短 Though actually不過其實 petite on a label does not always mean thin標籤上的petite不一定是指瘦 it mainly means short主要是指矮小

In ordinary talk it can sound like catalogue language, or like a compliment. Said with the wrong smile, it can also feel as if the speaker is shrinking a woman into something cute, so tone matters.

In ordinary talk在日常對話裡 it can sound like catalogue language它可能聽起來像型錄用語 or like a compliment或像是一種稱讚 Said with the wrong smile用不對的笑容說出來 it can also feel as if the speaker is shrinking a woman into something cute也可能讓人覺得說話的人把這個女生縮小成一個可愛的小東西 so tone matters所以語氣很重要

People almost never call a man petite; they say short, slight, or small.

People almost never call a man petite幾乎沒有人會用petite形容男生 they say short, slight, or small而是說short、slight，或small

As a noun, a petite can mean a woman of that build, or that clothing size. French petite just means “small” (for a feminine noun); English kept a narrower, more complimentary sense.

As a noun當名詞用時 a petite can mean a woman of that build可以指身材嬌小的女性 or that clothing size或指那個尺碼 French petite just means 'small'法文的petite原本就只是「小」的意思 (for a feminine noun)（用在陰性名詞上） English kept a narrower, more complimentary sense英文則保留了一個比較窄、比較帶稱讚意味的用法