那一定不是小数目
“it must not be a small amount.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
最佳的地方 你看 如果说 典司真的贪污了钱财
“to get information. Look. If the Services Bureau really embezzled money,”
那 一定 不是小数目
“it must not be a small amount.”
如果他把钱 藏在家里 就既容易被发现
“If he hid the money at home, it would be easily found,”
Direct spoken expression in this communicative setting.
Using negative phrases like '不是小数目' (not a small amount) is a widespread Chinese rhetorical habit to make an assertive point sound measured and objective.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
no small amount; a substantial sum
A common litotes used to emphasize that an amount of money or cost is very large.