小
SMALL
Mnemonic
Start with the center line: a stick (丨)—the same one you’ve already learned! Next, picture a skinny girl squeezing her arms (the two short diagonals, 丶) tightly against her sides, trying to take up as little space as possible.
The whole shape shows someone making themselves as narrow or dainty as possible. What does it mean? SMALL!
(Writing tip: Middle stroke first, then left, then right.)
Example Vocabulary
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大小（だいしょう） – big and small; size
Click to recall: 大 = -
小人（こびと） – small person; dwarf
Click to recall: 人 = -
小一（しょういち） – first grade (elementary school)
Click to recall: 一 = -
小山（こやま） – small hill
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小水（しょうすい） – a light stream; a trickle
Click to recall: 水 =
Active review:
Use the toggles to test your memory of past kanji as you go through each example. If something looks new, just focus on this page's kanji meaning.
Example Sentences
- 小人がもりにすんでいます。– The small people live in the forest.
- 小山のうえに月がみえた。– The moon was visible over the small hill.