小: the kanji for small
小 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means small. Below are its readings, 16 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
小 is written in 3 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
小 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 15 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ショウ (shou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 小学校しょうがっこう · shōgakkō | elementary school |
| 小学生しょうがくせい · shōgakusei | elementary school student |
| 大小だいしょう · daishō | large and small |
| 縮小しゅくしょう · shukushō | reduction; scaling back |
| 最小さいしょう · saishō | the smallest; minimum |
| 小説しょうせつ · shōsetsu | novel |
| 小数点しょうすうてん · shōsūten | decimal point |
ちいさい (chiisai)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 小さいちいさい · chiisai | small |
| 小さなちいさな · chiisana | small |
こ (ko)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 小型こがた · kogata | compact; small-sized |
| 小鳥ことり · kotori | small bird |
| 小切手こぎって · kogitte | check (for payment) |
| 小包こづつみ · kozutsumi | parcel |
| 小麦こむぎ · komugi | wheat |
お (o)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 小川おがわ · ogawa | stream; brook |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 小, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 小豆あずき · azuki | azuki bean |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 娘は小学校の三年生です。Musume wa shōgakkō no sannensei desu.My daughter is in third grade at elementary school.
- 小さい会議室を予約しました。Chiisai kaigishitsu o yoyaku shimashita.I booked the small meeting room.
- 小包を送りたいです。Kozutsumi o okuritai desu.I'd like to send a parcel.
- 事業を縮小することになりました。Jigyō o shukushō suru koto ni narimashita.It was decided to scale back the business.
- 小説を読むのが好きです。Shōsetsu o yomu no ga suki desu.I like reading novels.
- 小型のパソコンを買いました。Kogata no pasokon o kaimashita.I bought a compact computer.
Questions about 小
How many strokes does 小 have?
小 is written in 3 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 小?
The on readings are shou (ショウ). The kun readings are chiisai (ちいさい), ko (こ), o (お).
What is the difference between 小さい and 小さな?
Both mean "small." 小さい (chiisai) can end a sentence, as in 部屋が小さい (heya ga chiisai, the room is small). 小さな (chiisana) comes only before a noun, as in 小さな部屋 (chiisana heya, a small room).
What JLPT level is 小?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Things and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 小
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.