小
小 in useful words
Learn the character in complete words, because its pronunciation can change with context. Read each word aloud, connect it with the meaning, and then cover the reading to test yourself.
- 小さいちいさい
- small
- 小学校しょうがっこう
- elementary school
- 小学生しょうがくせい
- elementary school pupil
Reading 小 in context
小さい (ちいさい, small) uses ちい. 小学校 (しょうがっこう, elementary school) and 小学生 (しょうがくせい, elementary school pupil) use しょう.
Try it in a sentence
Practice sentence written for this site.
小さい本を読みます。
ちいさい ほんを よみます。
I read a small book.
Watch for this: 小学校 ends in がっこう, but 小学生 contains がくせい. Keep the small っ in the school word; do not insert it into the pupil word.
Check yourself: Which word has a small っ: 小学校 or 小学生?
小学校 (しょうがっこう) has a small っ. 小学生 is しょうがくせい.
The difference comes from 学校 versus 学生. Practising both complete words prevents an incorrect sound change.
Choose your next practice
For reading, cover a word’s pronunciation and recall it before checking. For handwriting, hide the stroke diagram and write the character from memory. An isolated reading list is a reference; the word determines which sound you need.