JLPT N5 · Japanese kanji
小 — little
- Reading
- ショウ・ちい.さい・こ\~・お\~・さ\~
- Meaning
- little; small
- JLPT level
- N5
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
小 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N5 level. Its primary reading is ショウ・ちい.さい・こ\~・お\~・さ\~ and it means little; small. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
小 appears in everyday japanese words such as 小売 (retail), 小柄 (short) and 小銭 (coins).
Japanese words containing 小
Frequently asked questions
What does 小 mean in Japanese?
小 means little; small in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N5 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 小 read?
小 is read ショウ・ちい.さい・こ\~・お\~・さ\~. Reading it inside real words — 小売 and 小柄 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 小 — is it JLPT N5?
Yes. 小 is on the official JLPT N5 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 小 in a word?
A common word containing 小 is 小売 (こうり) — "retail". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 小 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 小 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N5 kanji
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