How to Write 小 (little, small) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 小 (“little, small”), indexed under the 小 (しょう (small)) radical. Practice 小 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 小さい (ちいさい (chiisai) — small / little), 小学校 (しょうがっこう (shougakkou) — elementary school), 小説 (しょうせつ (shousetsu) — novel).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (小)
Primary Radical (部首): 小 — しょう (small)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 小
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 小 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ちい.さい, こ-, お-) when 小 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 小 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 小 (しょう (small)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 小 (しょう (small))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 3 strokes under radical 小.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 小
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 小 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 小 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 小 ("little, small") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 小 (しょう (small)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 小 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 小 (しょう (small)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 小?
For 小 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is ちい.さい, こ-, お-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 小 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ちい.さい, こ-, お-) when 小 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 小 includes 小さい (ちいさい (chiisai) — small / little), 小学校 (しょうがっこう (shougakkou) — elementary school), 小説 (しょうせつ (shousetsu) — novel).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 小 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 小 (little, small), start with the 小 (しょう (small)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 小 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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