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kleinkariert

small-minded, petty

adjective KLAYN-ka-reert Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Also means

narrow-minded, nitpicking

Usage Note

Kleinkariert (literally 'small-chequered') vividly describes someone who is obsessed with trivial details and unable to think in larger terms. It is always mildly derogatory and very common in everyday German to criticise bureaucratic pettiness or lack of vision.

Examples

"Das kleinkarierte Denken der Verwaltung blockierte jede kreative Lösung."

Natural Translation

The small-minded thinking of the administration blocked every creative solution.

Literal Translation

The petty thinking of the administration blocked every creative solution.

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