How does "tan poca" translate into English?

Question

The full sentence is "Rara vez o nunca miraba a través de los cristales a cosa de tan poca importancia como un chiquillo: eran aquéllos los lentes de ceremonia, su mayor orgullo, construidos por ornato antes que para servicio, y no hubiera visto mejor mirando a través de un par de mantas."

You must be very cleever to have understood the rest, tan poca, was only bit I could understand right away.. - annierats, Sep 1, 2011

I'm slowly working through the rest of it. ;) - jbierfeldt, Sep 1, 2011

Keep going, after staring at it for ages, I understand most of it, exocept, what was it he was actually looking at? If you put up your suggested translation you will get lots of help. - annierats, Sep 1, 2011

Answer 1

Hi bierfeldt - Welcome to the forum.

I got the following from my dictionary. I hope it helps you.

tan / so / such

No creo que sea tan ingenuo. / I don’t think he’s quite so naive.

No creí que llegarías tan tarde. / I didn’t think you’d be so late.

Es tan difícil que nadie lo sabe hacer. / It’s so hard that no one can do it.

such (a)

No me esperaba un regalo tan caro. / I wasn’t expecting such an expensive present.

Son unos niños tan buenos que… / They’re such good children that…

¡Qué casa tan bonita tienes! / What a lovely house you’ve got!

No podía comer de tan cansada que estaba. / I was so tired I couldn’t eat.

ni tan siquiera / not even

Ni tan siquiera se despidió. He didn’t even say goodbye.

no tan allá / not so far away

tan cierto como que dos y dos son cuatro / as sure as eggs is eggs

tan… como… / as… as…

Es tan apuesto como su padre. / He’s as smart as his father.

tan pronto como llegues / as soon as you arrive

No es tan moreno como yo. / He isn’t as dark as me.

tan sólo / only

Tan sólo te pido que me escuches. I’m only asking you to listen to me.

tan/tanto es así que… / so much so that…

¡Gracias! Estoy tan feliz. - jbierfeldt, Sep 1, 2011

seeeeeeee? nobody says these nice things to me, jeje, I was faster but you were better;) - 00494d19, Sep 1, 2011

Eres tan lista, Heidita! - annierats, Sep 1, 2011

Answer 2

tan poca importancia

...such little importance...

Tan is normall such or so, depending.

Tan bueno: so good

You are too quick for me. :) - ian-hill, Sep 1, 2011

Tan rápida, ¿verdad? :) - cristalino, Sep 1, 2011

¡Gracias por la respuesta rápida! - jbierfeldt, Sep 1, 2011