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What is the Kanji for 'Small'? | 小

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Small', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Small' is 小.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Small

    Reading

    kunyomiちい

    chii

    ko

    onyomiしょう

    shou

    Parts

    Eight Barb

    Example Word

    小さな: small. The Japanese determiner '小さな (ちいさな)' is used to describe something as 'small'. It is similar in meaning to the adjective '小さい (ちいさい)', but '小さな' is specifically used before nouns to modify them directly, often carrying a slightly more poetic or emotional nuance. For example: a small bird「小さな鳥」(ちいさなとり). a small dream「小さな夢」(ちいさなゆめ). Unlike '小さい', which can stand alone as a predicate, '小さな' must always be followed by a noun. This determiner is often used in literature or storytelling to evoke a sense of intimacy or delicacy.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    3

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    1

    Frequency

    41

    Radical Form

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Eight

    radical

    Meaning

    Barb

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 10 other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thread

    kanji

    Meaning

    Guest, Vip

    kanji

    Meaning

    Resemble, Resemblance

    kanji

    Meaning

    Capital

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prefecture

    kanji

    Meaning

    Purification, Observe religious abstinence

    kanji

    Meaning

    Still, Esteem

    kanji

    Meaning

    Show, Indicate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Year, Years old

Words Using

This kanji is used in 25 words:

    word

    小麦

    Meaning

    Wheat

    word

    小学

    Meaning

    Elementary

    word

    小指

    Meaning

    Pinkie

    word

    小量

    Meaning

    Small amount

    word

    小さな

    Meaning

    Small

    word

    小型

    Meaning

    Small size

    word

    縮小

    Meaning

    Reduction

    word

    小鳥

    Meaning

    Bird

    word

    Meaning

    Small

    word

    小包

    Meaning

    Parcel

    word

    小屋

    Meaning

    Hut

    word

    小学校

    Meaning

    Elementary

    word

    小雨

    Meaning

    Drizzle

    word

    小売店

    Meaning

    Retail store

    word

    小麦粉

    Meaning

    Flour

    word

    小児

    Meaning

    Child

    word

    小説

    Meaning

    Novel

    word

    小さい

    Meaning

    Small

    word

    小学生

    Meaning

    Elementary student

    word

    小児科

    Meaning

    Pediatrics

    word

    小遣い

    Meaning

    Pocket money

    word

    大小

    Meaning

    Size, Importance

    word

    最小

    Meaning

    Minimum

    word

    小川

    Meaning

    Stream

    word

    小便

    Meaning

    Urine, Urination

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 16 kanji contain the part 八 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ship

    kanji

    Meaning

    Command, Proportion

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soldier

    kanji

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    Meaning

    Take in, Vicarious

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hole

    kanji

    Meaning

    Face

    kanji

    Meaning

    Yellow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Public

    kanji

    Meaning

    Six

    kanji

    Meaning

    Code, Rule

    kanji

    Meaning

    Head

    kanji

    Meaning

    Together

    kanji

    Meaning

    Father

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shellfish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Minute, Part

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 13 kanji contain the part 亅 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Body, Self

    kanji

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measurement

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dispute

    kanji

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bamboo

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thing

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Talent, Age (counter)

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beforehand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Street

    kanji

    Meaning

    Water

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 小 mean?

小 means 'Small'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in First Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.

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