小 Kanji – little
The Japanese kanji 小 can mean little, small.
Meaning and Readings
How is 小 read?
小 has the onyomi reading ショウ and the kunyomi readings ちいさい, こ-, お-, さ-.
In romaji, these readings can be written as shou, chiisai, ko, o, sa.
Common Japanese Words Using 小
These common Japanese words contain 小. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 過小評価（かしょうひょうか） — underestimation, undervaluation
- 最小（さいしょう） — smallest (in size, degree, etc.), least, minimum, minimal
- 最小限（さいしょうげん） — minimum, lowest, minimal, least
- 山小屋（やまごや） — mountain hut (esp. one that offers lodging to climbers and hikers), mountain cottage, mountain shanty
- 芝居小屋（しばいごや） — playhouse, theatre, theater
- 縮小（しゅくしょう） — reduction, curtailment, cut, cutback, scaling down, contraction, shrinkage
- 小さい（ちいさい） — small, little, tiny
- 小雨（こさめ） — light rain, drizzle
- 小屋（こや） — hut, cabin, shed, (animal) pen
- 小学（しょうがく） — elementary school, primary school, grade school