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小家伙 (xiǎo jiā huo) — little one; little guy (affectionate term for a child or small animal)

Definition

An affectionate way to call a child or small animal 'little one' or 'little guy'. Used as a term of endearment, similar in tone to "kiddo" or "little one".

noun
little onelittle guy (affectionate term for a child or small animal)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge xiǎo jiā huo zhēn kě ài.
    This little one is really cute.
  • ，，。
    Xiǎo jiā huo, bié kū le, mā ma zài zhè r.
    Little one, don't cry, mom is here.
  • 。
    Nà zhī xiǎo gǒu shì gè wán pí de xiǎo jiā huo.
    That puppy is a mischievous little one.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

小xiǎosmall
家伙guy
家jiā伙huǒ

小 means small, and 家伙 refers to a guy or fellow, so 小家伙 affectionately means a little one.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 夥; 伙 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 伙 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (大伙儿, 伙) it is 夥; in others (小伙子) it is 伙.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
多多duō
Sound part声符shēngfú
果
果guǒ夥huǒ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 夥 combines 多 (many) with 果 as a sound part. The simplified 伙 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 伙 →
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