小 xiǎo — small, little

Meanings

1. 1

   small, little

   Small in size or amount, and by extension young in age. Like all Chinese adjectives it needs a degree adverb when used as a predicate.

   adjective
2. 2

   young; (before a surname) a friendly form of address

   adjective

   小 + surname (小王) is a warm, informal way to address someone younger than you or of similar age.

Character breakdown

• 小

  xiǎo (third tone, dipping)

  small, little; young, junior

  3 strokesRadical 小

Example sentences

• 他的儿子很小。/他的兒子很小。Tā (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) érzi (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) xiǎo. (third tone, dipping)···

  His son is still little.

• 这个杯子太小了。/這個杯子太小了。Zhège (fourth tone, falling) bēizi (first tone, high and level) tài (fourth tone, falling) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)···

  This cup is too small.

Similar words

Words containing 小

• 小时/小時xiǎoshí (third tone, dipping)hour (a length of time)
• 小姐xiǎojiě (third tone, dipping)Miss, young lady
• 小组/小組xiǎo (third tone, dipping) zǔ (third tone, dipping)group
• 小心xiǎoxīn (third tone, dipping)to be careful, to watch out for
• 小说/小說xiǎo (third tone, dipping) shuō (first tone, high and level)novel
• 小时候/小時候xiǎo (third tone, dipping) shí (second tone, rising) hou (neutral tone)in one's childhood
• 大小dà (fourth tone, falling) xiǎo (third tone, dipping)dimension
• 小学/小學xiǎo (third tone, dipping) xué (second tone, rising)elementary school; primary school
• 小朋友xiǎo (third tone, dipping) péng (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping)child
• 从小/從小cóng (second tone, rising) xiǎo (third tone, dipping)from childhood
• 小型xiǎo (third tone, dipping) xíng (second tone, rising)small scale
• 小偷xiǎo (third tone, dipping) tōu (first tone, high and level)thief
• 缩小/縮小suō (first tone, high and level) xiǎo (third tone, dipping)to reduce
• 小区/小區xiǎo (third tone, dipping) qū (first tone, high and level)neighborhood
• 小人xiǎo (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising)person of low social status (old)
• 小声/小聲xiǎo (third tone, dipping) shēng (first tone, high and level)in a low voice
• 小品xiǎo (third tone, dipping) pǐn (third tone, dipping)short, simple literary or artistic creation