xiǎo = xi + ao3
small / tiny / few / young
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How to pronounce 小

MandarinBanana teaches pronunciation with the Marilyn Method: every Pinyin syllable is one initial plus one final, the initial becomes a person, an animal or a deity, and the final becomes a place in your memory palace — with the tone deciding which part of that place the scene happens in. Remember the little story below for each half and the whole syllable comes back with them.

= xi initial

Xi is for Xi Shi (西施), one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China.

By Matthias • updated 5 months ago
+ ao3 final

In the aorta’s living room.

By Matthias • updated 5 months ago

小 character breakdown

Chinese characters are built out of smaller characters. Each component carries a mnemonic symbol - one concrete object that stands in for it - and a mnemonic story hands those objects to the person and the place that stand for the pronunciation. Learn a component once and every character that reuses it gets easier.

Component Translations
= b + a1
eight; 8
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jué = ju + e2
"vertical stroke with hook" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 6) / see also 豎鉤|竖钩[shu4 gou1]
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Characters with 小 as component

shǎo = sh + ao3
few / less / to lack / to be missing / to stop (doing sth) / seldom
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shào = sh + ao4
young
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shì = sh + Ø4
to show / to reveal
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Words with 小

show 1024 more
hour / CL:個|个[ge4]
young lady / miss / (slang) prostitute / CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4]
to be careful / to take care

Sentences with 小

xiǎo
 
 
xiǎo
 
 
xiǎo

Want to remember 小 for good?

Make it your learning target and MandarinBanana works out the shortest route to it: the two sounds its syllable is built from, then the components of the character itself, one short step at a time. No account needed to start.

xiǎo

small / tiny / few / young

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Prompt snippets

A daisy is a simple, cheerful flower with bright white petals radiating around a golden-yellow center. Its round, symmetrical shape and fresh green stem give it a clean, natural charm.