Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

小身者 (しょうしんもの) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

小しょう身しん者もの

しょ

う

し

ん

も

の

Meanings

1

low-ranking person; person of humble means

Historical term for a person of low social status or modest income, often used in Edo-period contexts. Not used in modern everyday speech.

江え戸ど時じ代だい、小しょう身しん者ものは幕ばく府ふの下か級きゅう役やく人

にん

と

し

て

働はたら

い

た

。

In the Edo period, low-ranking persons worked as lower officials of the shogunate.

彼かれは小しょう身しん者ものながら、誠せい実じつに務つとめを果はたした。

Though he was a person of humble means, he fulfilled his duties faithfully.

Kanji

小little, small
身somebody, person, one's station in life
者someone, person

Related words

下か級きゅう武ぶ士し
Refers specifically to lower-ranking samurai, while 小身者 can include non-samurai of low status.
貧びん乏ぼう人にん
A general modern term for a poor person, without the historical or status connotations of 小身者.

Built from

小しょう身しん+者もの

Etymology

Compound of 小身 (しょうしん, 'small stature' or 'low rank') and 者 (もの, 'person'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term was used in the Edo period to denote individuals of modest means or low social standing.