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小
小 (readings: しょう, ちい, こ, お; Japanese kanji) means “small”. It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 小学校 (elementary school).
What does 小 mean?
| Kanji | 小 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | small |
| Readings | しょう, ちい, こ, お |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 小
小 is read しょう or ちい or こ or お depending on the word.
Example words with 小
| Example | 小学校 (elementary school) |
|---|
Practice writing 小 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14