JLPT N5 · 3 strokes
Kanji 小: "little, small"
The kanji 小 means "little, small". It is written with 3 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N5, read ショウ in on'yomi and ちい.さい, こ-, お-, さ- in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ショウ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
ちい.さいこ-お-さ-
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | little, small |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 3 |
| JLPT level | N5 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 1 |
| Frequency rank | 114 of 2,501 |
Common words with 小
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 小さいsmall; little; tiny · slight; below average (in degree, amount, etc.); minor; small
- 小さなsmall; little; tiny
- 小smallness; small item · short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days)
- 小学校primary school; elementary school; grade school
- 小説novel; story; (work of) fiction
- 小声voix basse, chuchotement
- 小学生elementary school student; primary school student; grade school student
- 小柄petite taille, stature menue, petit gabarit · petit motif (tissu)
- 小屋hut; cabin; shed; (animal) pen · small theatre (theater); temporary playhouse; circus tent; booth
- 小母さんold lady; ma'am
- 小娘jeune fille, gamine
- 小僧youngster; boy; kid; brat · young Buddhist monk; young bonze
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