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幼小 (yòu xiǎo) — young and small (of children, animals, plants); tender (of mind, heart, stage of development)

Definition

Describes a living thing very young and still small, often with a tender quality — used for children, animals, plants, or minds/feelings (幼小的心灵). More literary than 小 alone.

adjective
young and small (of children, animals, plants)tender (of mind, heart, stage of development)

Examples

  • 幼小。
    Zhè xiē yòu xiǎo de yòu miáo xū yào jīng xīn zhào gù.
    These young seedlings need careful tending.
  • 幼小，。
    Bǎo hù yòu xiǎo de xīn líng, shì měi gè dà rén de zé rèn.
    Protecting tender young hearts is every adult's responsibility.
  • 幼小。
    Tā huí yì qǐ zì jǐ yòu xiǎo de shí hou.
    She recalled her own young and small days.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

幼yòuyoung
小xiǎosmall

幼 and 小 both describe youth or smallness, so together they mean young and immature.

Characters in this word

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

幼 is built from 幺, shown as tiny, and 力, shown as strength. 幺 may also contribute the sound.

Open 幼 →

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 →
Appears in
Life Stages & AgeSize & Dimension

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