小
little · small
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of dividing something small. Three dots representing smallness.
Symbolism
Tiny, humble, delicate. Japanese aesthetic of attending to small things.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Small joy
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
過小評価
かしょうひょうか
underestimation; undervaluation; underestimation
小春日和
こはるびより
Indian summer (around November); mild late autumn weather; mild late fall weather; Indian summer (around November)
小心翼々
しょうしんよくよく
very timid; very nervous; faint-hearted; very timid
針小棒大
しんしょうぼうだい
exaggeration; making a mountain out of a molehill; exaggeration
大同小異
だいどうしょうい
essentially the same with only minor differences; essentially the same with only minor differences
高手小手
たかてこて
bound hands and arms; bound hands and arms
軽薄短小
けいはくたんしょう
small, light and thin (of consumer products, esp. electronics); small, light and thin (of consumer products, esp. electronics)
小国寡民
しょうこくかみん
small country with a small population (The Chinese philosopher Lao-tze's ideal of a state); small country with a small population (The Chinese philosopher Lao-tze's ideal of a state)
小人閑居
しょうじんかんきょ
a small-minded person being idle (tends to do evil); a small-minded person being idle (tends to do evil)
胆大心小
たんだいしんしょう
being bold and courageous, but also careful and meticulous; being bold and courageous, but also careful and meticulous
腕白小僧
わんぱくこぞう
naughty boy; mischievous boy; little rascal; naughty boy
Proverbs & Idioms
小事は大事
しょうじはだいじ
Small things matter
Even small matters are important
Poetry
小倉山 峰のもみぢ葉 心あらば 今ひとたびの みゆき待たなむ
Poem #26 from Hyakunin Isshu
浅茅生の 小野の篠原 しのぶれど あまりてなどか 人の恋しき
Poem #39 from Hyakunin Isshu
世の中は つねにもがもな 渚こぐ あまの小舟の 綱手かなしも
Poem #93 from Hyakunin Isshu
風そよぐ ならの小川の 夕暮れは みそぎぞ夏の しるしなりける
Poem #98 from Hyakunin Isshu