modest

Compared meaning: not proud or boastful (adjective).

比较义项：谦逊的，不自夸、不骄傲（形容词）。

• modest 本词

  Emphasizes downplaying one's own achievements or abilities rather than boasting; often collocates with 'about' (modest about something) and success/achievements.

  强调对自己的成就或能力轻描淡写、不夸耀，常与 about 搭配（modest about something），多用于成就、成功相关的语境。

  Despite his success, he remained modest about his achievements.

  尽管取得了成功，他对自己的成就依然很谦逊。

• humble

  Emphasizes a down-to-earth attitude and not acting superior to others, often after a win or honor; can suggest warmth and staying grounded rather than just avoiding boasting.

  强调为人低调、不摆架子、不自视高人一等，常用于获胜或获得荣誉之后，带有一种亲和、脚踏实地的意味，而不仅仅是不夸耀。

  Even after winning, she stayed humble and thanked her whole team.

  即使赢得了比赛，她依然很谦逊，感谢了整个团队。

Modest and humble both mean not boastful, but they differ. Modest stresses playing down one's own achievements, often with 'about'. Humble stresses staying down-to-earth and not acting superior, often after winning something. Humble can also mean 'low in rank'; that meaning is not compared here.

两词在“谦逊”这一义项上很接近，都指不自夸、不炫耀，但语气和常见搭配略有不同：modest 更强调对自己的成就轻描淡写、不张扬；humble 更强调放低姿态、不摆架子，常隐含谦卑、亲和的态度，有时也可指出身或条件上的“卑微”，但此处不比较该义项。

Compared meaning: not large in amount or quality, but acceptable (adjective).

比较义项：形容数量、程度或质量“不算多／不算突出，但过得去”的说法（形容词）。

• small

  Means simply little in amount or size, with no judgement of whether that is good or bad; the most basic, neutral word on this scale, and the only one that clearly signals 'not enough' rather than 'good enough'.

  意思就是数量或体积少，本身不带好坏评价；是这组词里最基本、最中性的说法，也是唯一明确表示“不够”而非“尚可”的词。

  The company posted only a small profit this quarter.

  这家公司本季度的利润非常少。

• average

  Describes something that matches the typical or usual level for its group, not necessarily low; it compares against a norm rather than saying an amount is small or good.

  表示与该群体的一般水平相符，不一定就是低；它是跟“常态”作比较，而不是说数量少或质量好。

  His test score was average, right in the middle of the class.

  他的考试成绩中等，正好在班级中游。

• fair

  Rates something as reasonably good or acceptable, above poor but below excellent; unlike the others it carries a positive quality judgement rather than describing a small quantity.

  表示某事物相当不错、可以接受，比“差”好但比不上“优秀”；跟其他几个词不同，它带有正面的质量评价，而不是形容数量少。

  His grasp of French is fair, though far from fluent.

  他的法语掌握得还算可以，但远谈不上流利。

• modest 本词

  Describes an amount that is small but presented as adequate or unpretentious, often used approvingly for income, size, or success to soften the fact that it is not large.

  形容数量虽小但被认为是够用的、不张扬的，常用于收入、规模或成就，带有委婉、不夸张的正面语气。

  The couple lives in a modest house on the edge of town.

  这对夫妇住在镇边一栋不大但过得去的房子里。

Small, average, fair, and modest all describe something not large, but differ. Small means little. Average means typical for its group, not necessarily low. Fair means reasonably good, better than poor. Modest means small but presented as good enough. Other meanings are not compared here.

这几个词都能形容数量、程度或质量“不算大、不算突出”，但语气和感情色彩不同，学习者常混淆。这里不比较 fair 表示“公平的、公正的”（如 That's not fair）的意思，也不比较 modest 形容人“谦逊、不自负”（如 modest about his achievements）的意思。