Spot 小
Find the repeated shape and notice where it sits before trying to memorize the whole character.
Visual pattern
小 component
xiǎo · small; young
A recurring visual building block found inside multiple Chinese characters. Compare what stays the same and what changes across the family.
A repeatable reading move
How to use 小
Use the component as a clue, then verify the complete character.
Compare the visual pattern
Use the stable shape to recognize the family, without assuming it always supplies meaning or sound.
Check what changes
Read the remaining component, then confirm the full pinyin, meaning, and stroke order on the character page.
Shared clue小Visual pattern
Read the pattern before memorizing the list
Use the shared shape as a recognition anchor, then confirm the full character's pronunciation and meaning.
The component page is a learning family; the radical page is a dictionary index. A shape can serve both roles.
Compare the family
What stays the same, what changes?
Each card keeps 小 visible while showing the other building blocks and the completed character.
少=
+丿
亲=
立+一
东=
七
乐=
丿
尖=
+大
尔=
⺈
尕=
乃
示=
二
尘=
+土
糸=
幺
尗=
上
孙=
子
Move into vocabulary
Words you can read next
These words contain characters from the 小 family. Open one to see its complete breakdown.
东西dōngxi
thing
HSK 3.0 · L1多少duōshaohow much?
HSK 3.0 · L1少shǎofew
HSK 3.0 · L1快乐kuàilèhappy
HSK 3.0 · L2东dōngeast
HSK 3.0 · L3东北dōngběiNortheast China
HSK 3.0 · L3东方dōngfāngeast
HSK 3.0 · L3东南dōngnánsoutheast
HSK 3.0 · L3叔叔shūshufather's younger brother
HSK 3.0 · L3音乐yīnyuèmusic
HSK 3.0 · L3表示biǎoshìChinese character
HSK 3.0 · L4东部dōngbùthe east
HSK 3.0 · L4