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Kotomora

小

little, small

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 200Strokes3

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

  • ちい.さい
  • こ-
  • お-
  • さ-

Nanori

  • いさら
  • こう
  • さざ
  • しゃお
  • ちいさ

Meaning

小 centers on the idea of smallness or being little in size, amount, or degree.

Most common words using 小

24 of 1,206
  • 小しょう
    N3

    smallness; small item

  • 小こ
    N2

    small; little; slight

  • 小さいちいさい
    N5

    small; little; tiny

  • 小説しょうせつ
    N4

    novel; story; (work of) fiction

  • 小さなちいさな
    N5

    small; little; tiny

  • 小学校しょうがっこう
    N5

    primary school; elementary school; grade school

  • 小学生しょうがくせい
    N2

    elementary school student; primary school student; grade school student

  • 小型こがた
    N3

    small-sized; small-scale; miniature

  • 小屋こや
    N3

    hut; cabin; shed; (animal) pen

  • 中小ちゅうしょう

    small and medium

  • 縮小しゅくしょう
    N2

    reduction; curtailment; cut; cutback; scaling down; contraction; shrinkage

  • 小山こやま

    hill; knoll

  • 小川おがわ
    N1

    stream; brook; creek

  • 小学しょうがく

    elementary school; primary school; grade school

  • 小遣いこづかい
    N3

    pocket money; spending money; pin money; allowance

  • 小島こじま

    small island; islet

  • 小規模しょうきぼ

    small scale

  • 小売こうり
    N1

    retail

  • 小児しょうに

    young child; infant

  • 小物こもの

    accessories; small articles

  • 小銭こぜに
    N2

    small change; pocket change; coins

  • 最小さいしょう
    N3

    smallest (in size, degree, etc.); least; minimum; minimal

  • 小鳥ことり
    N4

    small bird; little bird

  • 小僧こぞう

    youngster; boy; kid; brat; lad

Explore all words using 小 →

Study

Etymology

小 is a pictograph of three small dots or strokes representing something tiny or insignificant. The modern form retains this simple, small shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The three small strokes look like tiny grains or specks, emphasizing the idea of something little.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, imagine a small show where everything is miniature: show -> ショウ, and the tiny stage fits the meaning of small.