Kanji

What does the kanji 小 mean?

小 means small, little. On'yomi ショウ. Kun'yomi ちい.さい、こ-、お-、さ-.

Quick facts
On'yomiショウ
Kun'yomiちい.さい、こ-、お-、さ-
Strokes3
Main radical小
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N5
On'yomi ショウKun'yomi ちい.さい、こ-、お-、さ-
N5 · estimated, JLPT framework3 strokes

small, little

Memory hook

One short stroke with two even shorter ones beside it — SMALL.

Main radical

小small 3 strokes

Stroke order · 3 strokes

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Common words

More words with this kanji

  • 小学校しょうがっこうelementary school
  • 小しょうsmall, small size
  • 小包こづつみparcel, package
  • 小屋こやhut, small shed
  • 小銭こぜにsmall change, coins
  • 小麦こむぎwheat
  • 大小だいしょうsize, big and small
  • 小便しょうべんurine; to urinate
  • 小指こゆびlittle finger, pinky
  • 小数しょうすうdecimal number; a small part
  • 縮小しゅくしょうshrinkage, reduction, scaling down
  • 小学生しょうがくせいelementary school student
  • 小遣いこづかいpocket money, allowance
  • 小~こ~small, little (prefix)
  • 小母さんおばさんma'am, auntie; a middle-aged woman
  • 小父さんおじさんuncle, sir; a middle-aged man
  • 小売こうりretail
  • 小柄こがらsmall build; small pattern (fabric)
  • 小児科しょうにかpediatrics
  • 小切手こぎってcheck, cheque

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Data sources and licences

English meanings, On/Kun readings, stroke counts: KANJIDIC2 — Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group (EDRDG), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Components: KRADFILE (EDRDG). Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Mnemonics written by GoMe.

Voice: VOICEVOX Nemo.

N5–N1 levels on this page are estimates based on the JLPT framework, drawn from community benchmarks. GoMe Nihongo is not affiliated with the Japan Foundation or JEES, which administer the JLPT.