slightly good luck; small blessing
Primarily used as a fortune-telling result from omikuji (paper fortunes at shrines/temples), ranking below 吉 (good luck) and above 末吉 (uncertain luck).
See also: おみくじ
おみくじを引いたら小吉だった。
I drew an omikuji and got 'slightly good luck'.
小吉は、吉より少し運勢が劣るとされる。
Shōkichi is considered slightly less fortunate than kichi (good luck).
末吉 is 'uncertain luck' or 'future luck', ranking below 小吉.
Compound of 小 (small) and 吉 (good luck). The exact origin as an omikuji rank is uncertain, but it follows the pattern of other fortune ranks.