琐屑 (suǒ xiè) is an adjective meaning 'trivial' or 'petty', describing things that are small, unimportant, and often unnecessarily detailed or fussy. The character 琐 (suǒ) means 'trifling' or 'insignificant', while 屑 (xiè) originally meant 'crumb' or 'fragment', reinforcing the sense of minute, scattered, and negligible elements. Together, they emphasize excessive attention to minor details at the expense of what truly matters.

This word is commonly used in written or formal spoken Chinese—especially in essays, criticism, or reflective speech—to describe overly meticulous behavior, petty concerns, or inconsequential matters. It often carries a slightly negative or disapproving connotation, suggesting wasted energy or lack of perspective. While it can modify nouns directly (e.g., 琐屑的事), it’s also frequently used predicatively after 是 or as a subject complement. It rarely appears in casual daily conversation among young speakers, who might prefer simpler terms like 小事 or 鸡毛蒜皮.