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)

4 characters

Stroke count

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

Sort

Stroke count (default)FrequencyHSK levelRandom
  • 尚shàng

    still

    HSK 7

    8 strokes

  • 尙shàng

    variant of 尚, still

    8 strokes

  • 尝cháng

    to taste; to try (food)

    HSK 5

    9 strokes

  • 尜gá

    toy formed of a spindle with two sharp ends

    9 strokes

Related radicals (相关部首 xiāngguān bùshǒu)

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