小 - Translingual

Han character

(Kangxi radical 42, 小+0, 3 strokes, cangjie input 弓金 (NC), four-corner 90000, composition)

  1. Kangxi radical #42, .
  2. Shuowen Jiezi radical №15

Derived characters

小 - Chinese

simp. and trad.
alternative forms 𡮐 ancient

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character
Shang Western Zhou Warring States Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script Bronze inscriptions Qin slip script Small seal script Transcribed ancient scripts
Old Chinese
*sm̥ʰreːw, *sm̥ʰreːws
*sm̥ʰreːw, *sm̥ʰreːws
*sm̥ʰreːw, *sm̥ʰreːws
*sm̥ʰreːw, *mewʔ
*sʰroːʔ
*sm̥ʰreːwʔ, *mewʔ
*sm̥ʰreːws
*sm̥ʰreːws
*mewʔ
*mewʔ
*mewʔ
*mewʔ
*mewʔ, *mews
*mews
*mews
*sm̥ʰewʔ
*smewʔ
*hmjewʔ, *hmjews
*m̥ʰjewʔ
*senʔ, *smos

Two possible interpretations:

  • Ideogram (指事) – three small dots > small.
  • Pictogram (象形) – three granules of sand – original character of (OC *sraːl, *sraːls) > small.

Starting from some bronze inscriptions, the dots have become elongated. Based on this form, Shuowen erroneously considers it to be an ideogrammic compound (會意) : (to divide; to separate) + (small object).

Compare with (OC *hmjewʔ, *hmjews), represented by four dots in its oracle bone script form.

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
    • (Standard)
    • (Chengdu, SP): xiao3
    • (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): щё (xi͡o, II)
  • Cantonese
    • (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): siu2
    • (Taishan, Wiktionary): lhiau2
  • Gan (Wiktionary): xieu3
  • Hakka
    • (Sixian, PFS): séu
    • (Meixian, Guangdong): xiau3
  • Jin (Wiktionary): xiau2
  • Min Bei (KCR): siǎu
  • Min Dong (BUC): siēu
  • Min Nan
    • (Hokkien, POJ): sió / siáu
    • (Teochew, Peng'im): siê2 / sio2 / siao2 / siou2
  • Wu (Wiktionary): 2xiau
  • Xiang (Wiktionary): siau3
  • Middle Chinese: /siᴇuX/
  • Old Chinese
    • (Baxter–Sagart): /*[s]ewʔ/
    • (Zhengzhang): /*smewʔ/

Definitions

  1. small, tiny, little
    •    xiǎohái   child
    • ()
  2. minor, petty
  3. briefly, for a short while
    •    xiǎo   brief rest
  4. slightly, a little
  5. young
  6. (the) youngest
  7. a young person; child, kid, baby
    • 一家老   yījiālǎoxiǎo   the entire family, old and young
  8. Prefix used in front of family name to indicate informality or affection (for young people, (lǎo) for elder people).
    • For example, Someone called 李國寶/李国宝 can be called 小李.
  9. (humble) my, our
    •    xiǎo   [humble] I
    •    xiǎo   [humble] my daughter
    •    xiǎode   [humble] I
  10. Short for 小學小学 (xiǎoxué, “primary school”).
    1. Used in the abbreviation of the name of a primary school.
      •    Èr Xiǎo   No. 2 Primary School
    2. Used with a number to indicate the level of primary education.
      •    xiǎo   P1 (first year in primary school)
  11. (dialectal) concubine

Synonyms

Variety Location Words
edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)
Mandarin Beijing
Taiwan
Tianjin
Harbin
Jinan
Wanrong
Xi'an ,
Yinchuan
Xining ,
Ürümqi ,
Wuhan
Chengdu
Guiyang
Guilin
Liuzhou
Yangzhou
Nanjing
Hefei
Malaysia
Singapore
Cantonese Guangzhou
Hong Kong
Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)
Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)
Hong Kong (Ting Kok)
Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)
Macau
Guangzhou (Panyu)
Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)
Guangzhou (Conghua)
Guangzhou (Zengcheng)
Foshan
Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)
Foshan (Shunde)
Foshan (Sanshui)
Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)
Zhongshan (Shiqi)
Zhuhai (Qianshan)
Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)
Zhuhai (Doumen)
Jiangmen (Baisha)
Jiangmen (Xinhui)
Taishan
Kaiping (Chikan)
Enping (Niujiang)
Heshan (Yayao)
Dongguan
Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)
Qingyuan
Fogang
Yingde (Hanguang)
Yangshan
Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)
Shaoguan
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
Renhua
Lechang
Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)
Sihui
Guangning
Deqing
Huaiji
Yunfu
Xinxing
Luoding
Yunan (Pingtai)
Yangjiang
Xinyi
Maoming (Xinpo)
Lianjiang
Nanning
Wuzhou , 𱒃
Yulin 𱒃
Hepu (Lianzhou) 𱒃
Hepu (Shatian) 𱒃
Guiping ,
Guiping (Mule) 𱒃
Pingnan
Mengshan (Xihe)
Guigang (Gangcheng)
Guigang (Nanjiang)
Guigang (Pingdong)
Beiliu (Tangliao)
Baise
Bobai
Lingshan
Pubei
Qinzhou
Beihai
Beihai (Nankang)
Beihai (Yingpan) 𱒃
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) ,
Ningming
Hengzhou
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)
Danzhou
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)
Singapore (Guangfu)
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)
Móng Cái
Gan Nanchang ,
Lichuan ,
Pingxiang ,
Hakka Meixian ,
Xingning
Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)
Huiyang
Huidong (Daling)
Dongguan (Qingxi)
Boluo (Bendihua)
Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)
Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)
Heyuan (Bendihua)
Longchuan (Tuocheng Bendihua)
Heping (Linzhai Bendihua)
Lianping (Longjie Bendihua)
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)
Conghua (Lütian)
Jiexi
Changting
Wuping
Wuping (Pingyu)
Liancheng
Ninghua
Yudu
Ruijin
Shicheng
Shangyou (Shexi)
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
Hong Kong
Beiliu (Tang'an)
Mashan (Pianlian)
Senai (Huiyang)
Huizhou Jixi
Jin Taiyuan
Min Bei Jian'ou
Min Dong Fuzhou ,
Changle
Fuqing
Yongtai
Gutian
Fu'an
Ningde
Shouning
Zhouning
Fuding ,
Matsu
Min Nan Xiamen
Xiamen (Tong'an)
Quanzhou
Jinjiang
Nan'an
Hui'an
Anxi
Yongchun
Dehua
Zhangzhou
Zhangzhou (Longhai)
Zhangzhou (Changtai)
Hua'an
Nanjing
Pinghe
Zhangpu
Yunxiao
Zhao'an
Dongshan
Taipei ,
New Taipei (Sanxia) ,
Kaohsiung ,
Yilan ,
Changhua (Lukang) ,
Taichung ,
Tainan ,
Hsinchu ,
Kinmen
Penghu (Magong)
Penang (Hokkien)
Singapore (Hokkien)
Manila (Hokkien)
Zhangping (Yongfu)
Pingnan (Shangdu)
Chaozhou
Shantou
Shantou (Chenghai)
Shantou (Chaoyang)
Jieyang
Haifeng
Bangkok (Teochew)
Johor Bahru (Teochew)
Singapore (Teochew)
Batam (Teochew)
Pontianak (Teochew)
Leizhou
Wenchang ,
Haikou ,
Qionghai
Singapore (Hainanese) ,
Puxian Min Putian
Xianyou
Southern Pinghua Nanning (Tingzi)
Nanning (Shajing)
Binyang (Xinqiao)
Northern Pinghua Guilin (Chaoyang)
Guilin (Zhuyuan)
Lingchuan (Tanxia)
Wu Shanghai
Shanghai (Chongming)
Suzhou
Danyang
Hangzhou
Ningbo
Wenzhou ,
Jinhua
Xiang Changsha ,
Loudi
Shuangfeng
Quanzhou
Guanyang (Wenshi)
Variety Location Words
edit
Classical Chinese , , , 妾媵, 媵妾, 侍妾, 姬妾, 側室, 偏室, 姑娘
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) , 偏房
Mandarin Beijing 小太太兒, 小婆婆兒, 小奶奶兒, 小的兒
Taiwan 小老婆, 姨太太
Harbin 小老婆
Yantai (Muping) 小老婆兒, 小婆子
Jinan 小老婆
Luoyang 小老婆兒
Wanrong 小婆子
Xi'an 小婆子,
Yinchuan 小老婆,
Lanzhou 小老婆
Ürümqi 小老婆
Wuhan 小堂客, , 姨太太
Chengdu 小老婆, 小婆子
Guiyang 小婆娘, 姨太太
Liuzhou 小的, , 小老婆, 小婆
Xuzhou 小的兒, 小的, 小兒, 小點子, 小婆兒, 小婆子, 庶夫人
Nanjing 小老婆
Singapore 小老婆
Cantonese Guangzhou 細婆, 妾侍
Hong Kong 細婆, 妾侍
Dongguan 細婆
Gan Nanchang 小老婆,
Lichuan 小婆
Pingxiang 小老婆, 小婆子
Hakka Meixian 小婆
Yudu 小老婆
Miaoli (N. Sixian) 細姐, 細婆, 偏房
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) 細姐仔, 細婆, 偏房
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) 細姐, 細婆, 偏房
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) 細姐, 細姨, 偏房
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) 細姐, 細婆, 偏房
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) 細姨, 偏房
Huizhou Jixi 細老嫗
Jin Taiyuan 小老婆, 姨娘, 姨太太
Xinzhou 小婆子
Min Bei Jian'ou 小嬤
Min Dong Fuzhou 細婆, 細姐
Min Nan Xiamen 細姨
Quanzhou 細姨
Zhangzhou 細姨
Taipei 細姨
New Taipei (Sanxia) 細姨
Kaohsiung 細姨
Yilan 細姨
Changhua (Lukang) 細姨
Taichung 細姨
Tainan 細姨
Hsinchu 細姨
Kinmen 細姨
Penghu (Magong) 細姨
Leizhou 細娘
Haikou 細姩, 細老婆, 孧老婆,
Southern Pinghua Nanning (Tingzi) 細婆
Wu Shanghai 小老媽, 小老婆, 小娘子, 偏房
Shanghai (Chongming) 小老婆, 小老官, 姨太太
Suzhou 小老媽
Danyang 小老媽
Hangzhou 小老婆
Ningbo 小老𡢿
Wenzhou 姨娘, 姨娘兒
Jinhua 小老婆, 小婆
Xiang Changsha 小婆子, 小堂客
Loudi

Compounds

Descendants

Sino-Xenic ():

Pronunciation

  • Cantonese (Jyutping): siu2

Definitions

  1. (Cantonese, euphemistic) A euphemism of (“to fuck”).
    • [Guangzhou Cantonese]   siu2 nei5! [Jyutping]   Duck you!

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
  • Min Nan (POJ): siâu

Definitions

  1. (chiefly Taiwan, vulgar) Alternative form of (siâu), chiefly used in 三小 (sānxiǎo).

小 - Japanese

Kanji

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

Compounds

Pronunciation

  • (Tokyo) しょ [shóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])
  • IPA: [ɕo̞ː]

Noun

(しょう) (shō) せう (seu)?

  1. smallness; small size, small (sometimes used as an abbreviation for small serving, etc.)
  2. Short for 小の月 (shō no tsuki).
  3. (historical) during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, a unit of field area equal to around 400 square metres
    • 100 square footsteps before the Taikō land survey, and 120 square footsteps after

Antonyms

Derived terms

Idioms

  • 大(だい)は小(しょう)を兼(か)ねる (dai wa shō o kaneru, The greater serves the lesser.)

Coordinate terms

  • (historical unit):

Prefix

(しょう) (shō-) せう (seu)?

  1. small, little

Suffix

(しょう) (-shō) せう (seu)?

  1. suffix after names of elementary schools
    • (つくだ)(しょう)
      • tsukuda-shō
      • Tsukuda Elementary School

Proper noun

(しょう) (Shō) せう (seu)?

  1. a surname

Prefix

() (ko-) 

  1. less in size or quantity, small, little, short
  2. less in intensity, small, light, slight
  3. of secondary importance, secondary, sub-
  4. infant

Derived terms


Prefix

() (o-)  (wo)?

  1. attached to certain nouns:
    1. small in shape or scale
    2. attached to certain names to give expression or feelings
  2. used proverbially to represent "small" or "slight"
    • 小止みなく降る雨 (oyaminaku furu ame)
    • 小暗い道 (ogurai michi)

Derived terms


Alternative forms

Prefix

(ささ) or (さざ) (sasa- or saza-) 

  1. attached to certain nouns to mean:
    1. small
    2. fine
    3. slight

Derived terms

小 - Korean

Pronunciation

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [sʰo̞(ː)]
  • Phonetic hangul: [(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

, eumhun 작을 (jageul so)

  1. Hanja form? of (smallness; small things).

Compounds

小 - Vietnamese

Han character

: Hán Việt readings: tiểu : Nôm readings: tiểu, tẻo, tĩu

  1. (only before noun) chữ Hán form of tiểu (small).

Compounds

Meaning and Definition of 小
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