短小 (duǎn xiǎo) — short and small (in physical size); brief (in length, e.g. of a text)

Definition

Adjective (often used predicatively) meaning 'short and small' in size or 'brief and concise' in content, as in 短小精悍. Don't confuse with the verb 缩短 (to shorten, make shorter).

verb
short and small (in physical size)brief (in length, e.g. of a text)

Examples

  • 短小，。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng duǎn xiǎo jīng liàn, hěn yǒu jià zhí.
    This article is brief and concise, very valuable.
  • 短小，。
    Tā de shēn cái duǎn xiǎo, dàn lì qi hěn dà.
    He is short and small in stature, but very strong.
  • 短小，。
    Zhè zhǒng gōng jù duǎn xiǎo shí yòng, shì hé suí shēn xié dài.
    This kind of tool is small and practical, suitable to carry around.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

短duǎnshort
小xiǎosmall

短 means short and 小 means small, so the word describes something brief or small in size.

Characters in this word

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
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu短duǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

Open 短 →

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 →

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