Prefix meaning 'small' or 'narrow', used in words like 小川 (small stream) and 小部屋 (small room).
See also: 小川
Children playing in the small stream.
familiar prefix
Prefix used in names or terms to express familiarity or endearment, as in 小野 (a surname) or 小町 (a beauty).
See also: 小野
Mr./Ms. Ono is a kind person.
Prefix meaning 'slightly' or 'a bit', used in words like 小暗い (dim, slightly dark) and 小高い (slightly elevated).
See also: 小暗い
I walked through the dim forest.
plain; field
small rice field
old lady; ma'am
An Old Japanese prefix meaning “small” or adding a slight, familiar, or affectionate nuance. It is historically represented by 小 and appears in compounds from the earliest written Japanese.