小字 (xiǎo zì) — small characters (smaller font size in printing, calligraphy, etc.); childhood name, baby name (pet name used in the family)

Definition

Examples

• 这本书的正文用小字排印，注释用更小的字。
  Zhè běn shū de zhèng wén yòng xiǎo zì pái yìn, zhù shì yòng gèng xiǎo de zì.
  The main text of this book is printed in small characters, and the footnotes use even smaller ones.
• 他的小字叫“阿宝”，家里人都这么叫他。
  Tā de xiǎo zì jiào "ā bǎo", jiā lǐ rén dōu zhè me jiào tā.
  His childhood name is 'Abao', and everyone in the family calls him that.
• 古代文人常以小字题写诗稿，显得亲切。
  Gǔ dài wén rén cháng yǐ xiǎo zì tí xiě shī gǎo, xiǎn de qīn qiè.
  Ancient literati often used their childhood names to inscribe poem drafts, which came across as intimate.