HSK Guide

小 xiǎo — small, little

xiǎo (third tone, dipping)xiao3

small, little

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardadjective
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Meanings

  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. 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