⼩

small

xiǎo (xiao3)

Radical no. 42 · 3 strokes (第 42 部首 · 3 画 dì 42 bùshǒu · 3 huà)

Radical ⼩ (xiǎo) — meaning: small, 3 strokes.

Origin & mnemonic

The small radical originates from a pictograph representing three tiny objects placed close together or three grains of millet, gradually becoming an abstract symbol for the concept of smallness.

Mnemonic: Three small strokes stacked vertically like tiny millet grains symbolize "small".

Characters with this radical (含此部首的字 hán cǐ bùshǒu de zì)

8 characters

Stroke count

All strokes1-3 strokes4-6 strokes7-10 strokes11+ strokes

Sort

Stroke count (default)FrequencyHSK levelRandom
  • 少shǎo

    few

    HSK 1

    4 strokes

  • 尐jié

    (literary) few

    4 strokes

  • 尔ěr

    thus

    5 strokes

  • 尓ěr

    variant of 爾|尔[er3]

    5 strokes

  • 尕gǎ

    little (dialect)

    5 strokes

  • 尖jiān

    pointed; tapering; sharp

    HSK 6

    6 strokes

  • 尘chén

    dust

    6 strokes

  • 尗shū

    old variant of 菽[shu1]

    6 strokes

Related radicals (相关部首 xiāngguān bùshǒu)

Same stroke count or numerically adjacent in the 214-radical set.