小 (xiǎo) — small, tiny; young (in age)
Definition
小 (xiǎo) is the everyday word for 'small' in size, or 'young' in age. Don't confuse it with 少 (shǎo), which means 'few' in number/quantity, not small in size.
smalltinyyoung (in age)
Examples
- 。Zhè zhī māo hěn xiǎo.This cat is very small.
- 。Wǒ de shū hěn xiǎo.My book is very small.
- 。Tā dì di hěn xiǎo.His younger brother is very young.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo 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.
Appears in
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