Arrange the food on a small plate.
Attaches to adjectives or adjectival stems to add a sense of 'somewhat' or 'vaguely'.
See also: こざっぱり
I tidied up the room somewhat neatly.
Sometimes derogatory; used with nouns for people or roles to imply insignificance or low rank.
See also: 小役人
He is nothing more than a petty official.
小 (read こ) is a prefix meaning 'small', while 子 (also read こ) is a prefix meaning 'child' or 'small offspring', so 小猫 would mean 'small cat' but 子猫 means 'kitten'.
Standard kanji spelling for this prefix.
The prefix こ is a native Japanese reading of the kanji 小, meaning 'small'. It is used in many compounds and is distinct from the on'yomi しょう.
small bird; little bird
youngster; boy; brat · young Buddhist monk; novice monk · shop boy; errand boy; apprentice
low voice; whisper; soft voice
wheat
wheat flour
belle; local beauty
small build; petite; small stature · small pattern; fine pattern
diligent; attentive; frequent and careful
little person (folklore/fantasy); fairy; elf; gnome; dwarf · little person (dwarfism); dwarf; midget
small tool; gadget · stage prop; property · prop master
small chamber; cell; cabinet; booth; compartment · areole; areola
little finger; pinky · little toe
lane; alley
cheque; check
late autumn; Indian summer; 10th month of the lunisolar calendar
lowercase letter · small letter
melodic ornamentation; vocal embellishment · unit of timber measurement
pebble; small stone
light rain; drizzle
teaspoon
subdivision; dividing into small portions