小
しょう
smallness; small item; short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days); elementary school
JLPT N3 Common word
Meanings
Noun, Noun, prefix
smallness; small itemNoun
short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days)AbbreviationNoun, Noun, prefix
elementary schoolAbbreviationNoun, prefix
smaller (of two things, places, etc. with the same name); inferior- younger (of two people with the same name); junior
All 13 meanings
Prefix
small; little; slight- slightly less than; just about
- somewhat; somehow
- minor; petty
Suffix
small; little; dearPrefix
small; narrow- familiar prefix
- slightly; a bit
Rare and archaic meanings (1)
Noun
unit of field area (approx. 400 sq m)Archaic
Example sentences
大か、小か。
Large or small?
-
Bless these little children.
-
You look tiny next to a sumo wrestler.
黒い小猫がぴょんぴょんと水溜をさけて、隣の生垣の下をくぐった。
The black kitten hopped to avoid the puddle, and passed under the neighbouring hedge.
私のかわいい小猫ちゃんは、もう数週間も前に姿を消したままなの。
I lost my adorable kitten a few weeks back.
More examples (3)
僕は小供の時分、どんな菓子がすきだつたか、今思ひ出さうとしても思ひ出せない。
What kind of sweets did I like as a child? Even if I try to remember, I can't.
ごんは、一人ぼっちの小狐で、しだの一ぱいしげった森の中に穴をほって住んでいました。そして、夜でも昼でも、あたりの村へ出て来て、いたずらばかりしました。
Gon was a solitary little fox who dug and lived in a hole in a forest full of ferns. Night or day, he would come out and visit the neighboring village, where he would get up to nothing but mischief.
ケニアのファッション業界で独自の市場を切り開くことに成功した、ナイロビを拠点とするファッションデザイナーは、多くの小事業主が「高品質の製品を手頃な価格で」手に入れられることに満足していると述べた。
The Nairobi-based fashion designer, who has successfully carved herself a niche in Kenya’s fashion industry, said many small business owners are happy to gain access to “high quality products at affordable prices.”