Learn Chinese Characters 127 小

小(xiǎo)



Its original meaning is “small” or “little”. The script of oracle bones (the first one) and bronze wares (the second one) look like three pieces of small stuffs, such as sands or millets. Later, the little vertical stroke in the middle became longer and important.

It is a radical which has something to do with “small” or “little” when it formed other new characters.

A Test: Please tell which part representing “small” or “little”.
尖 尘 少


Useful Phrases:

小吃(xiǎo chī  ) small and cheap dishes

小菜(xiǎo cài)
side dish such as pickles, fried peanuts, cold meats, etc. usually go with wine

小丑(xiǎo chǒu  ) clown

小刀 (xiǎo dāo  ) pocket knife

小孩儿(xiǎo hái ér  ) kids

小气 (xiǎo qì)stingy, miserly

小巧 (xiǎo qiǎo)small and nimble

小学 (xiǎo xué)primary school

小组 (xiǎo zǔ)a team, a roup

大小 (dà xiǎo)sizes