Usage of the character 小

Xiaojin County (Tibetan: btsan lha rdzong) in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture 阿壩藏族羌族自治州／阿坝藏族羌族自治州 ( Abà Zàngzú Qiāngzú Zìzhìzhōu), northwest Sichuan

xiǎoguān

小官

[小官]

petty official
minor functionary

xiǎowú

小鹀

[小鵐]

(bird species of China) little bunting (Emberiza pusilla)

miǎoxiǎo

渺小

[渺小]

minute
tiny
negligible
insignificant

xiǎodī

小滴

[小滴]

a drop

shòuxiǎo

瘦小

[瘦小]

slightly-built
petite

xiǎogū

小姑

[小姑]

father's youngest sister
husband's younger sister; sister-in-law

xiǎozhuàn

小篆

[小篆]

the small or lesser seal, the form of Chinese character standardized by the Qin dynasty

qǐxiǎo

起小

[起小]

since childhood

xiǎoqū

小区

[小區]

housing estate; community; neighborhood
(telecommunications) cell

dàxiǎo

大小

[大小]

large and small
size
adults and children
consideration of seniority
at any rate

xiǎozhèn

小镇

[小鎮]

small town; village

xiǎoqiáo

小瞧

[小瞧]

(coll.) to look down on
to underestimate

xiǎoniǎo

小鸟

[小鳥]

small bird
young bird (hatchling, nestling, fledgling, chick)
(fig.) penis (kiddie term)
(golf) birdie

xiǎomì

小秘

[小秘]

(ironically) "secretary" (i.e. boss's mistress)

xiǎokàn

小看

[小看]

to look down on
to underestimate

xiǎowū

小屋

[小屋]

cabin
lodge
cottage
chalet
hut
shed

xiǎopiào

小票

[小票]

receipt
banknote of small denomination

xiǎochǎn

小产

[小產]

to miscarry
a miscarriage
an abortion

Xiǎokāng

小康

[小康]

Xiaokang, a Confucian near-ideal state of society, second only to Datong 大同 ( Dàtóng)

xiānxiǎo

纤小

[纖小]

fine
delicate

xiǎopào

小泡

[小泡]

vesicles

xiǎobiàn

小便

[小便]

urine
to urinate
(euphemism) penis or vulva

xiǎozǐ

小子

[小子]

(literary) youngster
(old) young fellow (term of address used by the older generation)
(old) I, me (used in speaking to one's elders)

xiǎoqián

小钱

[小錢]

a small amount of money

xiǎoguò

小过

[小過]

little mistake
minor offense
slightly too much

xiǎoshí

小时

[小時]

hour
CL:個／个 (gè)

dǎxiǎo

打小

[打小]

(dialect) from childhood; from a young age

xiǎoxiě

小写

[小寫]

lowercase

xiǎoqù

小觑

[小覷]

to despise
to have contempt for

xiǎokāng

小康

[小康]

moderately affluent
well-off
a period of peace and prosperity

xiǎodù

小蠹

[小蠹]

bark beetle (zoology)

miǎoxiǎo

眇小

[眇小]

variant of 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo)

xiǎojìng

小径

[小徑]

alley

Xiǎohào

小昊

[小昊]

Xiaohao (c. 2200 BC), leader of the Dongyi 東夷／东夷 ( Dōngyí) or Eastern Barbarians

xiǎoběn

小本

[小本]

small capital
on a shoestring

xiǎonǎo

小脑

[小腦]

cerebellum (part of the brain)

guóxiǎo

国小

[國小]

elementary school (Tw)
abbr. for 國民小學／国民小学 (guómínxiǎoxué)

xiǎoqiū

小丘

[小丘]

hill; knoll

xiǎojié

小节

[小節]

a minor matter
trivia
bar (music)

xiǎoshuì

小睡

[小睡]

to nap
to doze

xiǎoxī

小溪

[小溪]

brook
streamlet

xiǎozú

小卒

[小卒]

foot soldier
minor figure
a nobody
(chess) pawn

xiǎoyú

小于

[小於]

less than, <

xiǎotuǐ

小腿

[小腿]

lower leg (from knee to ankle)
shank

xiǎojié

小结

[小結]

summary
short
brief
wrap-up

fàxiǎo

发小

[髮小]

(dialect) close childhood friend whom one grew up with
a couple who grew up as childhood friends

xiǎomì

小蜜

[小蜜]

(derog.) girlfriend of a married man

xiǎogǒu

小狗

[小狗]

pup; puppy

xiǎojuǎn

小卷

[小卷]

young squid (Tw)

xiǎochuí

小槌

[小槌]

mallet
drumstick

jíxiǎo

极小

[極小]

minimal
extremely small

xiǎoguǎi

小拐

[小拐]

to turn right (Shanghainese)

xiǎoyàng

小样

[小樣]

galley proof (printing)
unimpressive
(coll.) little guy (mild insult also used as an affectionate term)

Xiǎomǐ

小米

[小米]

Xiaomi, Chinese electronics company founded in 2010

xiǎozhòng

小众

[小眾]

minority of the population
non-mainstream (activity, pursuit etc)
niche (market etc)

Xiǎo Xūn

小薰

[小薰]

Xiao Xun (1989-), Taiwan actress

xiǎoshù

小数

[小數]

small figure
small amount
the part of a number to the right of the decimal point (or radix point)
fractional part of a number
number between 0 and 1
decimal fraction

Xiǎodǎo

小岛

[小島]

Kojima (Japanese surname and place name)

xiǎoqǔ

小曲

[小曲]

popular song
folk tune
ballad

Xiǎoyuān

小渊

[小淵]

Obuchi (Japanese surname)

xiǎoshì

小视

[小視]

to belittle
to look down upon
to despise

Xiǎoyě

小野

[小野]

Ono (Japanese surname and place name)

tǎoxiǎo

讨小

[討小]

(coll.) to take a concubine

xiǎohái

小孩

[小孩]

child
CL:個／个 (gè)

xiǎodāo

小刀

[小刀]

knife
CL:把 (bǎ)

xiǎodì

小弟

[小弟]

little brother
I, your little brother (humble)

xiǎoniú

小牛

[小牛]

calf
(coll.) lower-priced model of Lamborghini

xiǎojìn

小尽

[小盡]

lunar month of 29 days

xiǎofàn

小贩

[小販]

peddler
hawker

xiǎozhuàn

小传

[小傳]

sketch biography
profile

xiǎotóu

小头

[小頭]

the smaller part or share of sth

xiǎohào

小号

[小號]

trumpet
small size (clothes etc)
(coll.) a number one; a piss
(humble) our store
alternate account (for an Internet forum etc)

xiǎodǎo

小岛

[小島]

isle

xiǎorén

小人

[小人]

person of low social status (old)
I, me (used to refer humbly to oneself)
nasty person
vile character

xiǎolù

小路

[小路]

minor road
lane
pathway
trail

xiǎoqì

小气

[小氣]

stingy
miserly
narrow-minded
petty

xiǎofěn

小粉

[小粉]

starch

xiǎocài

小菜

[小菜]

appetizer
small side dish
easy job
piece of cake
see also 小菜一碟 (xiǎocàiyīdié)

chick

xiǎoquǎn

小犬

[小犬]

puppy
my son (humble)

xiǎoshù

小树

[小樹]

shrub
small tree
sapling
CL:棵 (kē)

Xiǎohán

小寒

[小寒]

Lesser Cold, 23rd of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣／二十四节气 6th-19th January

fùxiǎo

附小

[附小]

affiliated elementary school (abbr. for 附屬小學／附属小学 (fùshǔxiǎoxué))

xiǎoqiú

小球

[小球]

sports such as ping-pong and badminton that use small balls
see also 大球 (dàqiú)

xiǎokāi

小开

[小開]

(dialect) boss's son
rich man's son
young master

xiǎonü

小女

[小女]

my daughter (humble)

xiǎodài

小袋

[小袋]

pouch

xiǎor

小儿

[小兒]

(coll.) early childhood
baby boy

xiǎoshēng

小声

[小聲]

in a low voice
(speak) in whispers

xiǎogǔ

小鼓

[小鼓]

snare drum

xiǎosī

小厮

[小廝]

(literary) underage male servant

xiǎodiào

小调

[小調]

xiaodiao, a Chinese folk song genre
minor key (in music)

xiǎochāo

小抄

[小抄]

cheat sheet
crib sheet

xiǎozhuǎn

小转

[小轉]

to turn right (Shanghainese)

xiǎojiě

小解

[小解]

to urinate
to empty one's bladder

xiǎobìng

小病

[小病]

minor illness
indisposition

jiāoxiǎo

娇小

[嬌小]

petite
delicate
dainty

xiǎoyáng

小羊

[小羊]

lamb

xiǎohuáng

小黄

[小黃]

(coll.) taxicab (Tw)

xiǎobái

小白

[小白]

(slang) novice; greenhorn
(old) (slang) fool; idiot
abbr. for 小白臉／小白脸 (xiǎobáiliǎn), pretty boy

xiǎo'ér

小儿

[小兒]

young child
(humble) my son

Xiǎogǎng

小港

[小港]

Xiaogang or Hsiaokang district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市 ( Gāoxióngshì), south Taiwan

xiǎokě

小可

[小可]

small
unimportant
(polite) my humble person

xiǎoguǎn

小管

[小管]

young squid (Tw)

xiǎoshū

小叔

[小叔]

husband's younger brother
brother-in-law

xiǎobō

小波

[小波]

wavelet (math.)

Xiǎoxuě

小雪

[小雪]

Xiaoxue or Lesser Snow, 20th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣／二十四节气 22nd November-6th December

xiǎojie

小姐

[小姐]

young lady
miss
(slang) prostitute
CL:個／个 (gè),位 (wèi)

xiǎoxīn

小心

[小心]

to be careful
to take care

xiǎofèi

小费

[小費]

tip
gratuity

xiǎoyùn

小韵

[小韻]

homophone group (group of homophone characters, in a rhyme book)

xiǎoshòu

小受

[小受]

(slang) bottom (in a homosexual relationship)

xiǎocháng

小肠

[小腸]

small intestine

xiǎoyǎ

小雅

[小雅]

one of the three main divisions of the Book of Songs 詩經／诗经

Xiǎomǎn

小满

[小滿]

Xiaoman or Lesser Full Grain, 8th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣／二十四节气 21st May-5th June

xiǎomài

小麦

[小麥]

wheat
CL:粒 (lì)

xiǎozào

小灶

[小灶]

mess hall for high-ranking cadres
(fig.) special treatment
cf. 大灶 (dàzào)

xiǎohuǒ

小伙

[小伙]

young guy
lad
youngster
CL:個／个 (gè)

xiǎomín

小民

[小民]

ordinary people
commoner
civilian

Xiǎobèi

小贝

[小貝]

"Becks", nickname of British footballer David Beckham (see 貝克漢姆／贝克汉姆 ( Bèikèhànmǔ))

Xiǎoquán

小泉

[小泉]

Koizumi (name)
KOIZUMI Jun'ichirō, Japanese LDP politician, prime minister 2001-2006

xiǎo'ōu

小鸥

[小鷗]

(bird species of China) little gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

xiǎoshé

小舌

[小舌]

uvula

xiǎoguà

小褂

[小褂]

close-fitting (Chinese-style) upper garment

xiǎopǎo

小跑

[小跑]

to trot; to jog

xiǎowá

小娃

[小娃]

child

Xiǎoshǔ

小暑

[小暑]

Xiaoshu or Lesser Heat, 11th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣／二十四节气 7th-22nd July

xiáxiǎo

狭小

[狹小]

narrow

xiāoxiǎo

宵小

[宵小]

thief
bandit
scoundrel
villain

xiǎohé

小河

[小河]

brook

xiǎobā

小巴

[小巴]

minibus

ǎixiǎo

矮小

[矮小]

short and small
low and small
undersized

suōxiǎo

缩小

[縮小]

to reduce; to decrease; to shrink

xiǎobiān

小编

[小編]

editor or creator of online content (diminutive term, often used to refer to oneself: I, me, this writer)

xiǎotān

小摊

[小攤]

vendor's stall

xiǎoxiàng

小巷

[小巷]

alley

xiǎodiàn

小店

[小店]

small store

xiǎoxué

小学

[小學]

elementary school; primary school

xiǎodàn

小弹

[小彈]

bomblet (of cluster bomb)

xiǎotōu

小偷

[小偷]

thief

xiǎoqiǎo

小巧

[小巧]

small and exquisite
delicate
fine (features)
compact
nifty

xiǎopǐn

小品

[小品]

short, simple literary or artistic creation
essay
skit

xiǎo'èr

小二

[小二]

waiter

xiǎochūn

小春

[小春]

10th month of the lunar calendar
Indian summer
crops sown in late autumn

xiǎochéng

小城

[小城]

small town

jiǎnxiǎo

减小

[減小]

to reduce
to decrease
to diminish

xiǎochǒu

小丑

[小丑]

clown

xiǎobǎo

小鸨

[小鴇]

(bird species of China) little bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

xiǎobāo

小包

[小包]

packet

xiǎofù

小腹

[小腹]

underbelly
lower abdomen

xiǎoshì

小事

[小事]

trifle
trivial matter
CL:點／点 (diǎn)

xiǎoyǔ

小雨

[小雨]

light rain
drizzle

xiǎochuán

小船

[小船]

boat

xiǎoqì

小憩

[小憩]

to rest for a bit
to take a breather

xiǎo'è

小颚

[小顎]

mandible (lower jaw)

xiǎojì

小计

[小計]

subtotal

xiǎomāo

小猫

[小貓]

kitten

xiǎogōng

小攻

[小攻]

(slang) top (in a homosexual relationship)

xiǎowǒ

小我

[小我]

the self
the individual

wēixiǎo

微小

[微小]

minute (i.e. extremely small)
infinitesimal

xiǎofú

小幅

[小幅]

by a small margin
slightly (increase or decrease)
(of a painting or a piece of calligraphy) small

xiǎozi

小子

[小子]

(coll.) boy
(derog.) joker
guy
(despicable) fellow

Xiǎo Qiáo

小桥

[小橋]

Xiao Qiao, one of the Two Qiaos, according to Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義／三国演义 ( Sānguó Yǎnyì), the two great beauties of ancient China

xiǎosǎng

小嗓

[小嗓]

falsetto (in Chinese opera)

xiǎojiàng

小将

[小將]

(in classical literature) young military officer of high rank for his age
(during the Cultural Revolution) young militant in the Red Guard
(in modern usage) rising star (in sport, politics etc)

xiǎomǎ

小马

[小馬]

colt
pony

xiǎolóng

小龙

[小龍]

snake (as one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals 生肖 (shēngxiào))

xiǎoxiā

小虾

[小蝦]

shrimp

xiǎozī

小资

[小資]

petit bourgeois
yuppie
abbr. of 小資產階級／小资产阶级

xiǎochī

小吃

[小吃]

snack
refreshments
CL:家 (jiā)

xiǎoshǔ

小鼠

[小鼠]

mouse

xiǎozǔ

小组

[小組]

group

xiǎoguǐ

小鬼

[小鬼]

little demon (term of endearment for a child)
mischievous child
imp

xiǎocōng

小葱

[小蔥]

shallot
spring onion
CL:把 (bǎ)

xiǎobèi

小辈

[小輩]

the younger generation

xiǎoxiàng

小项

[小項]

small item
event (of program)

miǎoxiǎo

藐小

[藐小]

variant of 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo)

xiǎo'é

小鹅

[小鵝]

gosling

xiǎoyāo

小妖

[小妖]

small demon

xiǎojiàn

小建

[小建]

lunar month of 29 days
same as 小盡／小尽 (xiǎojìn)

zuòxiǎo

做小

[做小]

to become a concubine

Xiǎo Qiáng

小强

[小強]

cockroach (slang)

ruòxiǎo

弱小

[弱小]

small and weak; puny
the small and weak; children; women and children

xiǎoxù

小婿

[小婿]

my son-in-law (humble)
I (spoken to parents-in-law)

xiǎogōng

小恭

[小恭]

(literary) urine

xiǎoxiǎo

小小

[小小]

very small
very few
very minor

Xiǎozhài

小寨

[小寨]

Xiaozhai neighborhood of Xi'an

xiǎobào

小报

[小報]

tabloid newspaper

xiǎozhǐ

小指

[小指]

little finger

xiǎohuán

小鬟

[小鬟]

(historical) chignon worn by a young girl
slave girl (prepubescent household courtesan wearing a distinctive paired chignon hairstyle)

xiǎosān

小三

[小三]

mistress
the other woman (coll.)
grade 3 in elementary school

xiǎoliàng

小量

[小量]

a small quantity

xiǎomíng

小名

[小名]

pet name for a child
childhood name

xiǎobiàn

小辫

[小辮]

pigtail

xiǎomèi

小妹

[小妹]

little sister
girl
(Tw) young female employee working in a low-level role dealing with the public (assistant, waitress, attendant etc)

Xiǎoshèng

小乘

[小乘]

Hinayana, the Lesser Vehicle
Buddhism in India before the Mayahana sutras
also pr. ( Xiǎochéng)

xiǎodào

小道

[小道]

bypath
trail
bribery as a means of achieving a goal
minor arts (Confucian reference to agriculture, medicine, divination, and other professions unworthy of a gentleman)

xiǎojì

小技

[小技]

small skills
folk musical theater

xiǎodòu

小豆

[小豆]

see 紅豆／红豆 (hóngdòu)

lǎoxiǎo

老小

[老小]

the old and the young
the youngest member of the family

xiǎoshuō

小说

[小說]

novel
fiction
CL:本 (běn),部 (bù)

xiǎozhuó

小酌

[小酌]

to have a few (alcoholic) drinks (often implying a small party)

xiǎode

小的

[小的]

I (when talking to a superior)

xiǎomǐ

小米

[小米]

millet

dǎnxiǎo

胆小

[膽小]

cowardice
timid

xiǎocháo

小潮

[小潮]

neap tide (the smallest tide, when moon is at first or third quarter)

xiǎobàn

小半

[小半]

a portion smaller than a half
the lesser part
the smaller part

xiǎokǎo

小考

[小考]

quiz

xiǎochē

小车

[小車]

small model car
mini-car
small horse-cart
barrow
wheelbarrow
type of folk dance

xiǎocase

小case

[小case]

(slang) a piece of cake
a simple matter

young person
youngster

zhǒngxiǎomíng

种小名

[種小名]

(biology) specific epithet

xiǎohóngméi

小红莓

[小紅莓]

cranberry

Xiǎohé Qū

小河区

[小河區]

Xiaohe District of Guiyang City 貴陽市／贵阳市 ( Guìyáng Shì), Guizhou

xiǎofànzhuō

小饭桌

[小飯桌]

dining room for young schoolchildren unable to go home for lunch

xiǎopìhái

小屁孩

[小屁孩]

kid
youngster
(derog.) brat

xiǎoyāojīng

小妖精

[小妖精]

goblin
hussy
floozy

xiǎoliǎngkǒu

小两口

[小兩口]

(coll.) young married couple

xiǎomǐjiāo

小米椒

[小米椒]

same as 朝天椒 (cháotiānjiāo)

xiǎoshíhou

小时候

[小時候]

in one's childhood

xiǎochāor

小抄儿

[小抄兒]

erhua variant of 小抄 (xiǎochāo)

qiāoxiǎobèi

敲小背

[敲小背]

to be masturbated by a prostitute

xiǎoniányè

小年夜

[小年夜]

(coll.) the night before lunisolar New Year's Eve
(Tw) the night before New Year's Eve (either lunisolar or Gregorian)
(old) Little New Year's Eve (the 23rd or 24th of the 12th lunisolar month, when people offer sacrifices to the kitchen god)

Xiǎohóngmào

小红帽

[小紅帽]

Little Red Riding Hood

xiǎoqìhòu

小气候

[小氣候]

microclimate
fig. local situation

xiǎoshòuxīng

小寿星

[小壽星]

child whose birthday is being celebrated
birthday boy
birthday girl

xiǎotàitai

小太太

[小太太]

concubine
mistress

dàxiǎoyǎn

大小眼

[大小眼]

one eye bigger than the other

xiǎorénshū

小人书

[小人書]

children's picture story book
CL:本 (běn)

xiǎojiéxiàn

小节线

[小節線]

barline (music)

xiǎoyèqǔ

小夜曲

[小夜曲]

serenade

jiǎxiǎozi

假小子

[假小子]

tomboy

xiǎojítuán

小集团

[小集團]

faction
clique

Sì Xiǎolóng

四小龙

[四小龍]

Four Asian Tigers
East Asian Tigers
Four Little Dragons (East Asian economic powers: Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong)

xiǎofànguǎn

小饭馆

[小飯館]

tearoom
canteen
cafeteria

Wáng Xiǎobō

王小波

[王小波]

Wang Xiaobo (1952-1997), scholar and novelist

xiǎochúxī

小除夕

[小除夕]

the day before New Year's Eve

dàxiǎojie

大小姐

[大小姐]

eldest daughter of an affluent family
(polite) your daughter
bossy or indulged young woman
Miss High and Mighty

xiǎoyànwěi

小燕尾

[小燕尾]

(bird species of China) little forktail (Enicurus scouleri)

shènxiǎoqiú

肾小球

[腎小球]

glomerulus (medicine)

xiǎohuángguā

小黄瓜

[小黃瓜]

gherkin

xiǎoshùlín

小树林

[小樹林]

grove

xiǎotuǐdù

小腿肚

[小腿肚]

calf (of the leg)

xiǎojiāshǔ

小家鼠

[小家鼠]

mouse

xiǎobiǎozá

小婊砸

[小婊砸]

(slang) little biyatch (variation of 小婊子)

xiǎotiánjī

小田鸡

[小田雞]

(bird species of China) Baillon's crake (Porzana pusilla)

xiǎogūzi

小姑子

[小姑子]

(coll.) husband's younger sister; sister-in-law

wúxiànxiǎo

无限小

[無限小]

infinitesimal
infinitely small

xiǎojījī

小鸡鸡

[小雞雞]

penis (child's word)

xiǎochāqǔ

小插曲

[小插曲]

episode
brief interlude

xiǎoshūqiān

小书签

[小書籤]

bookmarklet (computing)

Xiǎoyīng Hào

小鹰号

[小鷹號]

Kitty Hawk (US aircraft carrier)

Xiǎogǎngqū

小港区

[小港區]

Xiaogang or Hsiaokang district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市 ( Gāoxióngshì), south Taiwan

Xiǎoyàntǎ

小雁塔

[小雁塔]

Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an

xīnyǎnxiǎo

心眼小

[心眼小]

see 小心眼 (xiǎoxīnyǎn)

xiǎomáochóng

小毛虫

[小毛蟲]

slug

xiǎodiézi

小碟子

[小碟子]

saucer

xiǎosuànpán

小算盘

[小算盤]

lit. small abacus
fig. selfish calculations
bean-counting

Chǒu Xiǎoyā

丑小鸭

[醜小鴨]

"The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Andersen 安徒生 ( Antúshēng)

xiǎoguǎngbō

小广播

[小廣播]

grapevine
gossip
to spread rumors

xiǎodiànlü

小电驴

[小電驢]

(coll.) electric scooter; electric moped
(dialect) scooter

xiǎofànwéi

小范围

[小範圍]

small-scale
local
to a limited extent

zuìxiǎohuà

最小化

[最小化]

to minimize

xiǎotáoqì

小淘气

[小淘氣]

rascal

xiǎozǔzōng

小祖宗

[小祖宗]

brat
little devil

xiǎopéngyǒu

小朋友

[小朋友]

child
CL:個／个 (gè)

Xiǎo Língtōng

小灵通

[小靈通]

Personal Handy-phone System (PHS), mobile network system operating in China 1998-2013, branded "Little Smart"

Xiǎo'érjīng

小儿经

[小兒經]

Xiao'erjing, refers to the use of the Arabic alphabet to write Chinese

xiǎosūdá

小苏打

[小蘇打]

baking soda; sodium bicarbonate
Taiwan pr. (xiǎosudǎ)

wúqióngxiǎo

无穷小

[無窮小]

infinitesimal (in calculus)
infinitely small

chīxiǎozào

吃小灶

[吃小竈]

to be given special treatment
to be treated in a favored way

dàxiǎobiàn

大小便

[大小便]

using the toilet
urination and defecation

xiǎosháoyù

小杓鹬

[小杓鷸]

(bird species of China) little curlew (Numenius minutus)

xiǎomèimei

小妹妹

[小妹妹]

little sister
little girl
(coll.) vulva

xiǎopánwěi

小盘尾

[小盤尾]

(bird species of China) lesser racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus remifer)

xiǎo Rìběn

小日本

[小日本]

(derog.) Japanese person
Jap

xiǎoyìsi

小意思

[小意思]

small token
mere trifle (used of one's gifts)

xiǎocàir

小菜儿

[小菜兒]

erhua variant of 小菜 (xiǎocài)

Xiǎojīn Xiàn

小金县

[小金縣]

Xiaojin County (Tibetan: btsan lha rdzong) in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture 阿壩藏族羌族自治州／阿坝藏族羌族自治州 ( Abà Zàngzú Qiāngzú Zìzhìzhōu), northwest Sichuan

xiǎobiàndǒu

小便斗

[小便斗]

urinal

xiǎobáitù

小白兔

[小白兔]

bunny rabbit

chuānxiǎoxié

穿小鞋

[穿小鞋]

lit. to make sb wear tight shoes (idiom)
to make life difficult for sb

Xiǎotiān'é

小天鹅

[小天鵝]

Little Swan (PRC appliance brand)

xiǎopùbù

小瀑布

[小瀑布]

cascade

xiǎoxiāmi

小虾米

[小蝦米]

shrimp
fig. small fry
minor player

tīngxiǎogǔ

听小骨

[聽小骨]

ossicles (of the middle ear)
three ossicles, acting as levers to amplify sound, namely: stapes or stirrup bone 鐙骨／镫骨, incus or anvil bone 砧骨, malleus or hammer bone 錘骨／锤骨

xiǎotíqín

小提琴

[小提琴]

fiddle
violin

xiǎohuǒr

小伙儿

[小伙兒]

erhua variant of 小伙 (xiǎohuǒ)

xiǎogǎigǎi

小改改

[小改改]

(Internet slang) young lady (Cantonese-influenced alternative to 小姐姐 (xiǎojiějie))

xiǎoqǐyè

小企业

[小企業]

small enterprise

xiǎodàishǔ

小袋鼠

[小袋鼠]

wallaby
pademelon

xiǎolürén

小绿人

[小綠人]

little green men from Mars

xiǎopàngzhuǎ

小胖爪

[小胖爪]

(coll.) hand

xiǎolúnchē

小轮车

[小輪車]

BMX (bike)
cycling BMX (sport)

xiǎochǎnzi

小铲子

[小鏟子]

trowel

xiǎohuángyīng

小蝗莺

[小蝗鶯]

(bird species of China) Pallas's grasshopper warbler (Locustella certhiola)

xiǎogōnggòng

小公共

[小公共]

mini bus (used for public transportation)

Lǐ Xiǎolóng

李小龙

[李小龍]

Bruce Lee (1940-1973), Hong Kong actor and martial arts expert

xiǎoniánrén

小年人

[小年人]

younger old person
young retiree

yīxiǎocuō

一小撮

[一小撮]

handful (of)

xiǎodìdi

小弟弟

[小弟弟]

little brother
little boy
(coll.) penis

chìxiǎodòu

赤小豆

[赤小豆]

see 紅豆／红豆 (hóngdòu)

xiǎobáishǔ

小白鼠

[小白鼠]

white mouse
lab mouse; lab rat
(fig.) human guinea pig

xiǎochīdiàn

小吃店

[小吃店]

snack bar
lunch room
CL:家 (jiā)

xiǎobáiliǎn

小白脸

[小白臉]

attractive young man (usually derog.)
pretty boy
gigolo

xiǎobáicài

小白菜

[小白菜]

bok choy
Chinese cabbage
Brassica chinensis
CL:棵 (kē)

xiǎobiāotí

小标题

[小標題]

subheading

xiǎopìnniú

小牝牛

[小牝牛]

heifer

héxiǎotǐ

核小体

[核小體]

nucleosome

dàxiǎoxiě

大小写

[大小寫]

capitals and lowercase letters

xiǎoqìchē

小汽车

[小汽車]

compact car

xiǎocōngming

小聪明

[小聰明]

clever-clever
clever in trivial matters
sharp but petty-minded

zuòxiǎochāo

做小抄

[做小抄]

to prepare a crib sheet
to crib
to cheat by copying

Xiǎomǎzuò

小马座

[小馬座]

Equuleus (constellation)

xiǎoyājuān

小鸦鹃

[小鴉鵑]

(bird species of China) lesser coucal (Centropus bengalensis)

xiǎoquèxìng

小确幸

[小確幸]

sth small that one can find pleasure in (e.g. a cold beer after a hard day or a serendipitous find in a second-hand store)

xiǎoháir

小孩儿

[小孩兒]

erhua variant of 小孩 (xiǎohái)

xiǎoxíngchē

小型车

[小型車]

compact car

xiǎoxīnyǎn

小心眼

[小心眼]

narrow-minded
petty

xiǎosōnggāo

小松糕

[小鬆糕]

muffin

xiǎobīnyù

小滨鹬

[小濱鷸]

(bird species of China) little stint (Calidris minuta)

xiǎowányì

小玩意

[小玩意]

gadget
widget (small item of software)

Xiǎotián Jiàn

小畑健

[小畑健]

OBATA Takeshi, manga artist, illustrator of cult series Death Note 死亡筆記／死亡笔记 (sǐwángbǐjì)

fēixiǎoshuō

非小说

[非小說]

non-fiction

xiǎofěnhóng

小粉红

[小粉紅]

young Chinese cyber-nationalists

xiǎoxíngxīng

小行星

[小行星]

asteroid
minor planet

xiǎomiànbāo

小面包

[小麵包]

bread roll
bun

xiǎojiùzi

小舅子

[小舅子]

(coll.) wife's younger brother

xiǎolóngbāo

小笼包

[小籠包]

steamed dumpling

fàxiǎor

发小儿

[髮小兒]

erhua variant of 髮小／发小 (fàxiǎo)

xiǎoháizi

小孩子

[小孩子]

child

xiǎonǎigǒu

小奶狗

[小奶狗]

(slang) naive, clingy, emotionally dependent, cute young guy (type of boyfriend)

xiǎoqīngxīn

小清新

[小清新]

hipster

xiǎozāngguǐ

小脏鬼

[小髒鬼]

dirty little devil (affectionate, of child)

zuìxiǎozhí

最小值

[最小值]

least value
minimum

xiǎobiànr

小辫儿

[小辮兒]

erhua variant of 小辮／小辫 (xiǎobiàn)

xuèxiǎobǎn

血小板

[血小板]

blood platelet

xiǎolóngxiā

小龙虾

[小龍蝦]

crayfish
(esp.) red swamp crayfish 克氏原螯蝦／克氏原螯虾 (kèshìyuán'áoxiā)

xiǎoyízi

小姨子

[小姨子]

(coll.) wife's younger sister; sister-in-law (term not used to directly address her)

xiǎoxuéshēng

小学生

[小學生]

primary school student
schoolchild
CL:個／个 (gè),名 (míng)
(fig.) beginner

xiǎo'érkē

小儿科

[小兒科]

pediatrics
pediatric (department)
sth of little importance
trifle
a child's play
(slang) childish
petty
stingy

xiǎojiàochē

小轿车

[小轎車]

(automobile) sedan
car

zhōngxiǎoxué

中小学

[中小學]

middle and elementary school

xiǎoxífu

小媳妇

[小媳婦]

young married woman
mistress
(fig.) punching bag
(old) child bride

xiǎotōur

小偷儿

[小偷兒]

erhua variant of 小偷／小偷 (xiǎotōu)

xiǎomáotou

小毛头

[小毛頭]

(coll.) new-born baby
young boy

xiǎoshēngchū

小升初

[小升初]

progression from elementary school to junior high (abbr. for 小學生升入初中生／小学生升入初中生 (xiǎoxuéshēngshēngrùchūzhōngshēng))

Xiǎozhāosì

小昭寺

[小昭寺]

Ramoche Temple, Lhasa

xiǎodùjuān

小杜鹃

[小杜鵑]

(bird species of China) lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)

chǒuxiǎoyā

丑小鸭

[醜小鴨]

ugly duckling

xiǎoqìguǐ

小气鬼

[小氣鬼]

miser
penny-pincher

Xiǎoquǎnzuò

小犬座

[小犬座]

Canis Minor (constellation)

xiǎobǐdiàn

小笔电

[小筆電]

mini laptop or notebook (computer)
netbook
CL:臺／台 (tái),部 (bù)

xiǎoyángtuó

小羊驼

[小羊駝]

(zoology) vicuña

Xiǎoshuōjiā

小说家

[小說家]

School of Minor-talks, one of the Hundred Schools of Thought 諸子百家／诸子百家 (zhūzǐbǎijiā) during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC)

xiǎochōngtū

小冲突

[小衝突]

skirmish
clash
dispute
brush

Xiǎotáoqì

小淘气

[小淘氣]

Rogue, Marvel Comics superhero

xiǎocèzi

小册子

[小冊子]

booklet
pamphlet
leaflet
information sheet
menu
CL:本 (běn)

xiǎofācái

小发财

[小發財]

(coll.) (Tw) mini truck
Kei truck

xiǎojiǔjiǔ

小九九

[小九九]

multiplication tables
(fig.) plan
scheme

xiǎolǎopó

小老婆

[小老婆]

concubine
mistress
(dialect) woman

xiǎobudiǎn

小不点

[小不點]

tiny
very small
tiny thing
small child
baby

chāoxiǎolù

抄小路

[抄小路]

to take the back roads; to take the side streets; to take the small paths

xiǎojīnkù

小金库

[小金庫]

supplementary cash reserve
private fund
private hoard
slush fund

xiǎodòngzuò

小动作

[小動作]

bad habit (e.g. nose-picking)
petty maneuver
dirty trick
gamesmanship

xiǎoshuōjiā

小说家

[小說家]

novelist

xiǎoshāngfàn

小商贩

[小商販]

small trader
peddler

xiǎohuángdì

小皇帝

[小皇帝]

child emperor
(fig.) spoiled child
spoiled boy
pampered only child

bànxiǎoshí

半小时

[半小時]

half hour

xiǎolíngyáng

小羚羊

[小羚羊]

gazelle

xiǎowěijiān

小苇鳽

[小葦鳽]

(bird species of China) little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

xiǎotānr

小摊儿

[小攤兒]

erhua variant of 小攤／小摊 (xiǎotān)

kāixiǎohuì

开小会

[開小會]

to whisper and chat (instead of listening during a meeting or lecture)

Guō Xiǎochuān

郭小川

[郭小川]

Guo Xiaochuan (1919-1976), PRC communist poet, hero in the war with Japan, died after long persecution during Cultural Revolution

xiǎoxiānnü

小仙女

[小仙女]

girl fairy
beautiful girl or young woman
(neologism) (slang) irrational and egocentric young woman

Zhōu Xiǎochuān

周小川

[周小川]

Zhou Xiaochuan (1948-), PRC banker and politician, governor of People's Bank of China 中國人民銀行／中国人民银行 ( Zhōngguó Rénmín Yínháng) 2002-2018

wàixiǎotuǐ

外小腿

[外小腿]

shin

máoxiǎonáng

毛小囊

[毛小囊]

follicle

xiǎochǒuyú

小丑鱼

[小丑魚]

clownfish
anemonefish

xiǎoqìqiāng

小气腔

[小氣腔]

small air cavity

xiǎoshùdiǎn

小数点

[小數點]

decimal point

fúxiǎomài

浮小麦

[浮小麥]

unripe wheat grain (used in TCM)

jīnxiǎofēng

金小蜂

[金小蜂]

a parisitoid wasp (genus Nasonia)

xiǎohuángchē

小黄车

[小黃車]

yellow bicycle (provided by Ofo bicycle sharing company 2014-2020)

xiǎorìzi

小日子

[小日子]

simple life

xiǎohuíxiāng

小茴香

[小茴香]

fennel
fennel seed

xiǎoyándòng

小岩洞

[小岩洞]

grotto

xiǎobāndiǎn

小斑点

[小斑點]

speckle

xiǎoxiǎoshuō

小小说

[小小說]

flash fiction

xiǎolǎoshǔ

小老鼠

[小老鼠]

@
at symbol

xiǎo'āyí

小阿姨

[小阿姨]

auntie, youngest of sisters in mother's family

xiǎopìtī

小䴙䴘

[小鷿鷈]

(bird species of China) little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Xiǎodāohuì

小刀会

[小刀會]

Dagger Society, anti-Qing secret society who mounted an unsuccessful rebellion in 1855

Xiǎochìbì

小赤壁

[小赤壁]

Little Red Cliff, nickname of Bitan 碧潭 ( Bìtán), Xindian, Taibei county, Taiwan

xiǎoniǎoqiú

小鸟球

[小鳥球]

(golf) birdie

Dèng Xiǎopíng

邓小平

[鄧小平]

Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), Chinese communist leader, de facto leader of PRC 1978-1990 and creator of "socialism with Chinese characteristics"

xiǎoniúròu

小牛肉

[小牛肉]

veal

yěxiǎohuí

野小茴

[野小茴]

dill seed

xiǎoxiānròu

小鲜肉

[小鮮肉]

(coll.) teen idol (male)

xiǎobiànchí

小便池

[小便池]

urinal

xiǎogōngzhǔ

小公主

[小公主]

lit. little princess
fig. spoiled girl
female version of 小皇帝 (xiǎohuángdì)

Xiǎoshīzuò

小狮座

[小獅座]

Leo Minor (constellation)

xiǎogāngqiú

小钢球

[小鋼球]

iron pellet
shrapnel

jíxìxiǎo

极细小

[極細小]

extremely small
infinitesimal

péixiǎoxīn

赔小心

[賠小心]

to be conciliatory or apologetic
to tread warily in dealing with sb

xiǎodàojù

小道具

[小道具]

(theater) hand prop (wine glass, pistol etc)

xiǎoxióngmāo

小熊猫

[小熊貓]

lesser panda (Ailurus fulgens); red panda

dǎnxiǎoguǐ

胆小鬼

[膽小鬼]

coward

xiǎohuǒzi

小伙子

[小伙子]

young man
young guy
lad
youngster
CL:個／个 (gè)

xiǎohùnhùn

小混混

[小混混]

hooligan
rogue
a good-for-nothing

xiǎomàibù

小卖部

[小賣部]

kiosk
snack counter
retail department or section inside a larger business

xiǎorénwù

小人物

[小人物]

nonentity
a nobody

xiǎoyǎnjiǎo

小眼角

[小眼角]

outer corner of the eye

xiǎonürén

小女人

[小女人]

dainty and delicate girl
concubine

diànxiǎo'èr

店小二

[店小二]

(old) (in a tavern or inn etc) waiter
attendant

xiǎogāngzhū

小钢珠

[小鋼珠]

pachinko

xiǎorénjīng

小人精

[小人精]

exceptionally bright kid
child prodigy

shùxiǎoshí

数小时

[數小時]

several hours

xiǎoshígōng

小时工

[小時工]

hourly worker
hourly job

kāixiǎozào

开小灶

[開小灶]

to give preferential treatment
to give special attention

wèixiǎo'āo

胃小凹

[胃小凹]

(physiology) gastric pits

xiǎogāngpào

小钢炮

[小鋼砲]

(coll.) piece of light artillery such as a mortar
(fig.) person who speaks boldly and frankly
hot hatch (car)
(also used figuratively with various meanings in other contexts)

jiěxiǎoshǒu

解小手

[解小手]

(coll.) to urinate

xiǎotóngxiāng

小同乡

[小同鄉]

person from the same county

xiǎozuǐhéng

小嘴鸻

[小嘴鴴]

(bird species of China) Eurasian dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)

xiǎojiějie

小姐姐

[小姐姐]

little girl who is older than another young child (e.g. her playmate)
(neologism c. 2017) (slang) young lady (amiable form of address for a young woman of about one's own age or a little older)

xiǎobiànzi

小辫子

[小辮子]

pigtail
(fig.) a shortcoming or evidence of wrongdoing that can be seized upon by others

xiǎomǔzhǐ

小拇指

[小拇指]

little finger
pinkie

xiǎobiànqì

小便器

[小便器]

urinal

xiǎojuānjiū

小鹃鸠

[小鵑鳩]

(bird species of China) little cuckoo-dove (Macropygia ruficeps)

húnxiǎozi

浑小子

[渾小子]

(derog.) young hooligan (sometimes said in jest)

Xiǎotāngshān

小汤山

[小湯山]

Xiaotangshan town in Beijing municipality

qǐxiǎor

起小儿

[起小兒]

erhua variant of 起小 (qǐxiǎo)

xiǎoyúnquè

小云雀

[小雲雀]

(bird species of China) oriental skylark (Alauda gulgula)

Xiǎoxióngzuò

小熊座

[小熊座]

Ursa Minor (constellation)

xiǎogēge

小哥哥

[小哥哥]

little boy who is older than another young child (e.g. his playmate)
(neologism c. 2017) (slang) amiable form of address for a young man of about one's own age or a little older

Xiǎodiànqū

小店区

[小店區]

Xiaodian district of Taiyuan city 太原市 ( Tàiyuánshì), Shanxi

xiǎopiányi

小便宜

[小便宜]

petty advantage; small gains

xiǎotiān'é

小天鹅

[小天鵝]

(bird species of China) tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)

kāixiǎochāi

开小差

[開小差]

to be absent-minded
to desert
to abscond from the army
absent without leave (AWOL)

xiǎokuòhào

小括号

[小括號]

round brackets; parentheses ( )

xiǎodòukòu

小豆蔻

[小豆蔻]

Indian cardamom (Amomum cardamomum)

xiǎobiǎndòu

小扁豆

[小扁豆]

lentil

xiǎosāndù

小三度

[小三度]

minor third (musical interval)

xiǎoduànzi

小段子

[小段子]

short paragraph
news article

xiǎoróngyā

小绒鸭

[小絨鴨]

(bird species of China) Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri)

xiǎowáwa

小娃娃

[小娃娃]

baby

xiǎohuòchē

小货车

[小貨車]

pickup truck

xiǎokě'ài

小可爱

[小可愛]

cutie
sweetie
(Tw) camisole (women's garment)

xiǎoxiānwēng

小仙鹟

[小仙鶲]

(bird species of China) small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae)

xiǎoshēngchǎn

小生产

[小生產]

small-scale production

xiǎocházi

小𥻗子

[小𥻗子]

gruel made from maize ground finer than 大𥻗子 (dàcházǐ)

liǎngxiǎowúcāi

两小无猜

[兩小無猜]

innocent playmates

tuīlǐxiǎoshuō

推理小说

[推理小說]

murder mystery (novel); whodunit

yángchángxiǎojìng

羊肠小径

[羊腸小徑]

winding road (twisting and turning like a sheep's intestine)

diāochóngxiǎojì

雕虫小技

[雕蟲小技]

insignificant talent
skill of no high order
minor accomplishment

běnxiǎolìwēi

本小利微

[本小利微]

(of a small business) to have very little capital and very modest profits

xiǎoxīnyǎnr

小心眼儿

[小心眼兒]

small-minded
petty
narrow-minded

xiǎotídàzuò

小题大做

[小題大做]

to make a big fuss over a minor issue (idiom)

chūjíxiǎoxué

初级小学

[初級小學]

lower elementary school (abbr. to 初小 (chūxiǎo))

xiǎodàoxīnwén

小道新闻

[小道新聞]

news from the grapevine

xiǎohuángjiǎoyù

小黄脚鹬

[小黃腳鷸]

(bird species of China) lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

xiǎolùluànzhuàng

小鹿乱撞

[小鹿亂撞]

fig. restless, because of fear or strong emotions

dàchúnxiǎocī

大醇小疵

[大醇小疵]

great despite minor blemishes
a rough diamond

xiǎocàiyīdié

小菜一碟

[小菜一碟]

a small appetizer
a piece of cake; very easy (idiom)

tiàoliáng-xiǎochǒu

跳梁小丑

[跳梁小丑]

(idiom) clownish troublemaker; contemptible buffoon

dàcáixiǎoyòng

大才小用

[大才小用]

lit. making little use of great talent
to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

qūqūxiǎoshì

区区小事

[區區小事]

trivial matter
trifle

yībùxiǎoxīn

一不小心

[一不小心]

to be a little bit careless; to have a moment of inattentiveness; accidentally

dǎxiǎobàogào

打小报告

[打小報告]

(coll.) to tattletale; to rat on sb

xiǎobáiliǎnr

小白脸儿

[小白臉兒]

erhua variant of 小白臉／小白脸 (xiǎobáiliǎn)

yángchángxiǎodào

羊肠小道

[羊腸小道]

road as twisty as sheep's intestine (idiom); narrow and winding road
fig. complicated and tricky job

lǎodàbùxiǎo

老大不小

[老大不小]

no longer a child (idiom)

xiǎosānhéxián

小三和弦

[小三和弦]

minor triad la-do-mi

xiǎojūnjiànniǎo

小军舰鸟

[小軍艦鳥]

(bird species of China) great frigatebird (Fregata minor)

xiǎozuǐwūyā

小嘴乌鸦

[小嘴烏鴉]

(bird species of China) carrion crow (Corvus corone)

shìwúdàxiǎo

事无大小

[事無大小]

see 事無巨細／事无巨细 (shìwújùxì)

xiǎozhīqìguǎn

小支气管

[小支氣管]

bronchiole

xiǎotídàzuò

小题大作

[小題大作]

variant of 小題大做／小题大做 (xiǎotídàzuò)

xiǎotíqínshǒu

小提琴手

[小提琴手]

violinist; fiddler

dǎnxiǎorúshǔ

胆小如鼠

[膽小如鼠]

(idiom) chicken-hearted; gutless

dàcáixiǎoyòng

大材小用

[大材小用]

using a talented person in an insignificant position (idiom)
a sledgehammer to crack a nut

Měizhōuxiǎotuó

美洲小鸵

[美洲小鴕]

Lesser Rhea
Darwin's Rhea
Rhea pennata

dàtóngxiǎoyì

大同小异

[大同小異]

virtually the same
differing only on small points

xiǎoxíngqǐyè

小型企业

[小型企業]

small business

xiǎoqīngjiǎoyù

小青脚鹬

[小青腳鷸]

(bird species of China) Nordmann's greenshank (Tringa guttifer)

xiǎoshānbāobao

小山包包

[小山包包]

a landscape dotted with low hills and hillocks (idiom)

dàjiēxiǎoxiàng

大街小巷

[大街小巷]

great streets and small alleys (idiom); everywhere in the city

xiǎohuāyuǎnzhì

小花远志

[小花遠志]

small-flowered milkwort (Polygala arvensis Willd. or P. telephioides), with roots used in Chinese medicine

zhìguàixiǎoshuō

志怪小说

[志怪小說]

tales of the supernatural (genre of fiction)

shídàshíxiǎo

时大时小

[時大時小]

sometimes big, sometimes small
varying

xiǎoshǒuxiǎojiǎo

小手小脚

[小手小腳]

mean
stingy
to be lacking in boldness
timid

Gǔjīn Xiǎoshuō

古今小说

[古今小說]

Stories Old and New by Feng Menglong 馮夢龍／冯梦龙 ( Féng Mènglóng), collection of late Ming baihua 白話／白话 (báihuà) tales published in 1620

xiǎobùwǔqǔ

小步舞曲

[小步舞曲]

minuet

duǎnpiānxiǎoshuō

短篇小说

[短篇小說]

short story

xiǎo'érmábì

小儿麻痹

[小兒麻痺]

polio (poliomyelitis)

xiǎoxíngqìchē

小型汽车

[小型汽車]

compact car

xiǎoliǎngkǒur

小两口儿

[小兩口兒]

erhua variant of 小兩口／小两口 (xiǎoliǎngkǒu)

suōxiǎomóxíng

缩小模型

[縮小模型]

miniature

xiǎoqiǎolínglóng

小巧玲珑

[小巧玲瓏]

dainty and delicate
exquisite

zhōngxiǎoqǐyè

中小企业

[中小企業]

small and medium enterprise

xiǎo'éróngzī

小额融资

[小額融資]

microfinance

wēixíngxiǎoshuō

微型小说

[微型小說]

flash fiction

ānpéixiǎoshí

安培小时

[安培小時]

ampere-hour (Ah)

xiǎobái'éyàn

小白额雁

[小白額雁]

(bird species of China) lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus)

xiǎoshìyīzhuāng

小事一桩

[小事一樁]

trivial matter; a piece of cake

bùwúxiǎobǔ

不无小补

[不無小補]

not be without some advantage
be of some help

nǎiyóuxiǎoshēng

奶油小生

[奶油小生]

handsome but effeminate man
pretty boy

zhuān'ànxiǎozǔ

专案小组

[專案小組]

task force

xiǎoxiězìmǔ

小写字母

[小寫字母]

lowercase (letters)

xiǎodùjīcháng

小肚鸡肠

[小肚雞腸]

lit. small belly, chicken's gut (idiom); narrow-minded
petty

lǎoxiǎolǎoxiǎo

老小老小

[老小老小]

(coll.) as one ages, one becomes more and more like a child

bàndà-bùxiǎo

半大不小

[半大不小]

teenage; in one's teens; adolescent

dàtíxiǎozuò

大题小作

[大題小作]

to cut a long story short
a brief treatment of a complicated subject
fig. to treat an important question as a minor matter

xuéfēnxiǎoshí

学分小时

[學分小時]

credit hour (in an academic credit system)
see also 學分制／学分制 (xuéfēnzhì)

kōngzhōngxiǎojiě

空中小姐

[空中小姐]

stewardess
air hostess

hóngtuǐxiǎosǔn

红腿小隼

[紅腿小隼]

(bird species of China) collared falconet (Microhierax caerulescens)

lǐngdǎoxiǎozǔ

领导小组

[領導小組]

leading small group (LSG), a CCP body that exercises general oversight on matters relating to a specific area (LSG for foreign affairs 外事工作, LSG for comprehensively deepening reforms 全面深化改革 etc)
aka central leading group

wǔxiáxiǎoshuō

武侠小说

[武俠小說]

a martial arts (wuxia) novel

yánjiūxiǎozǔ

研究小组

[研究小組]

research group

xiǎoxīnjǐnshèn

小心谨慎

[小心謹慎]

cautious and timid (idiom); prudent
careful

méidàméixiǎo

没大没小

[沒大沒小]

impolite
cheeky
impudent

xiǎohóngluóbo

小红萝卜

[小紅蘿蔔]

summer radish (the small red kind)

sīsīxiǎoyǔ

丝丝小雨

[絲絲小雨]

fine drizzle

yuánjiāoxiǎojie

援交小姐

[援交小姐]

girl who engages in enjo-kōsai
see also 援助交際／援助交际 (yuánzhùjiāojì)

kēyánxiǎozǔ

科研小组

[科研小組]

a scientific research group

xiǎoxíngxīngdài

小行星带

[小行星帶]

asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

zuòtáixiǎojiě

坐台小姐

[坐台小姐]

bar girl
professional escort

Měitǐ Xiǎopù

美体小铺

[美體小舖]

The Body Shop (UK cosmetics company)

yánqíngxiǎoshuō

言情小说

[言情小說]

romance novel
romantic fiction

xiǎojiāziqì

小家子气

[小家子氣]

petty
small-minded

xiǎogānggangr

小缸缸儿

[小缸缸兒]

small mug (baby language)

shénmóxiǎoshuō

神魔小说

[神魔小說]

supernatural novel
novel of ghosts and goblins

shuǎxiǎocōngming

耍小聪明

[耍小聰明]

to get smart
to resort to petty tricks

duǎnxiǎojīnghàn

短小精悍

[短小精悍]

(of a person) short but plucky (idiom)
(of an article) concise and forceful

xiǎolixiǎoqì

小里小气

[小裡小氣]

stingy
petty

yīngtáoxiǎozuǐ

樱桃小嘴

[櫻桃小嘴]

lit. cherry mouth (idiom)
fig. a delicate, ruby-lipped mouth

niúdāoxiǎoshì

牛刀小试

[牛刀小試]

see 小試牛刀／小试牛刀 (xiǎoshìniúdāo)

xiǎokāngshèhuì

小康社会

[小康社會]

society in which the material needs of most citizens are adequately met

báituǐxiǎosǔn

白腿小隼

[白腿小隼]

(bird species of China) pied falconet (Microhierax melanoleucos)

xiǎoxínghuòchē

小型货车

[小型貨車]

light van

Xiǎo Yàxìyà

小亚细亚

[小亞細亞]

Asia Minor
Anatolia

xiǎoqiáoliúshuǐ

小桥流水

[小橋流水]

a small bridge over a flowing stream

xiǎoxíngbāshì

小型巴士

[小型巴士]

minibus
microbus

sèqíngxiǎoshuō

色情小说

[色情小說]

pornographic novel
dirty book

Xiǎoxióng Wéiní

小熊维尼

[小熊維尼]

Winnie-the-Pooh (bear character in children's stories by A. A. Milne adapted by Disney)

xiǎoxīndìhuá

小心地滑

[小心地滑]

(used on signs) caution - wet floor (lit. "be careful, the floor is slippery")

xiǎoxíngguìchú

小型柜橱

[小型櫃櫥]

cabinet

yǐngshèxiǎoshuō

影射小说

[影射小說]

roman à clef

wúmíngxiǎozú

无名小卒

[無名小卒]

insignificant soldier (idiom)
a nobody
nonentity

wúxiànxiǎoshù

无限小数

[無限小數]

infinitesimal
infinite decimal expansion

zhīmaxiǎoshì

芝麻小事

[芝麻小事]

trivial matter
trifle

zhuāxiǎobiànzi

抓小辫子

[抓小辮子]

to catch sb out

dàxiǎosāndù

大小三度

[大小三度]

major and minor third (musical interval)

zhānghuíxiǎoshuō

章回小说

[章回小說]

novel in chapters, main format for long novels from the Ming onwards, with each chapter headed by a summary couplet

bùjūxiǎojié

不拘小节

[不拘小節]

to not bother about trifles (idiom)

yīxiǎozhènr

一小阵儿

[一小陣兒]

very brief period of time

xiǎomàipēiyá

小麦胚芽

[小麥胚芽]

wheat germ

xiǎoshízhōngxīn

小食中心

[小食中心]

Food court

xiǎoluóbotou

小萝卜头

[小蘿蔔頭]

(coll.) little kid

tānxiǎoshīdà

贪小失大

[貪小失大]

penny wise and pound foolish (idiom)

xiǎojiābìyù

小家碧玉

[小家碧玉]

pretty daughter in a humble family

xiǎolóngtāngbāo

小笼汤包

[小籠湯包]

steamed soup dumpling

shìlixiǎorén

势利小人

[勢利小人]

snob

xiǎodàoxiāoxi

小道消息

[小道消息]

hearsay
gossip

cháiménxiǎohù

柴门小户

[柴門小戶]

woodcutter's cottage (idiom); poor person's hovel
fig. my humble house

xiǎoshíhour

小时候儿

[小時候兒]

erhua variant of 小時候／小时候 (xiǎoshíhou)

dūcháxiǎozǔ

督察小组

[督察小組]

supervisory group

qiǎnzéxiǎoshuō

谴责小说

[譴責小說]

novel of denunciation (according to Lu Xun's 魯迅／鲁迅 ( Lǔ Xùn) classification)

Xiǎoyíngpánzhèn

小营盘镇

[小營盤鎮]

Xiaoyingpan township in Börtala Shehiri or Bole City 博樂市／博乐市, Xinjiang

xiǎo'érmábì

小儿痲痹

[小兒痲痺]

variant of 小兒麻痺／小儿麻痹
infantile paralysis
polio (poliomyelitis)

bàndàxiǎozǐ

半大小子

[半大小子]

teenage boy; adolescent boy

yīnxiǎoshīdà

因小失大

[因小失大]

to save a little only to lose a lot (idiom)

dǎxiǎosuànpán

打小算盘

[打小算盤]

lit. to count on a narrow abacus (idiom); petty and scheming selfishly
concerned with petty interests
selfish and uncaring of the interests of others
bean counter

xiǎochéngdàjiè

小惩大诫

[小懲大誡]

lit. to punish a little to prevent a lot (idiom); to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent large scale repetition

dàjīngxiǎoguài

大惊小怪

[大驚小怪]

to make a fuss about nothing (idiom)

kēhuànxiǎoshuō

科幻小说

[科幻小說]

science fiction novel

sānpéixiǎojie

三陪小姐

[三陪小姐]

female escort
bar girl

xiǎoshìniúdāo

小试牛刀

[小試牛刀]

to give a small demonstration of one's impressive skills (idiom)

zhuādàfàngxiǎo

抓大放小

[抓大放小]

(PRC, mid-1990s) to restructure the large state-owned enterprises (SOEs) controlled by the central government and privatize smaller SOEs at the local level

shǐzhuànxiǎoshuō

史传小说

[史傳小說]

historical novel

xiǎoniǎoyīrén

小鸟依人

[小鳥依人]

lit. like a little bird relying on people (idiom)
fig. cute and helpless-looking

xúnhuánxiǎoshù

循环小数

[循環小數]

recurring decimal

xiǎotàipíngniǎo

小太平鸟

[小太平鳥]

(bird species of China) Japanese waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)

xiǎodǎxiǎonào

小打小闹

[小打小鬧]

small-scale

yāomóxiǎochǒu

幺麽小丑

[么麼小醜]

insignificant wretch

xiǎobānjīwēng

小斑姬鹟

[小斑姬鶲]

(bird species of China) little pied flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)

Làbǐ Xiǎoxīn

蜡笔小新

[蠟筆小新]

Crayon Shin-chan (クレヨンしんちゃん), Japanese manga and anime series popular in China

chángpiānxiǎoshuō

长篇小说

[長篇小說]

novel

xiǎoréndézhì

小人得志

[小人得志]

lit. a vile character flourishes (idiom)
fig. an inferior person gets into a position of power, becoming conceited and arrogant

wénjiàndàxiǎo

文件大小

[文件大小]

file size

xūgòuxiǎoshuō

虚构小说

[虛構小說]

fiction

Wénmíng Xiǎoshǐ

文明小史

[文明小史]

Short History of Civilization, late Qing novel by Li Boyuan 李伯元 ( Lǐ Bóyuán) or Li Baojia 李寶嘉／李宝嘉 ( Lǐ Bǎojiā) describing the turmoil after the 1900 Eight-Nation Alliance 八國聯軍／八国联军 ( Bāguó Liánjūn)

dàhūxiǎojiào

大呼小叫

[大呼小叫]

to shout and quarrel
to make a big fuss

xiǎo Rìběnr

小日本儿

[小日本兒]

erhua variant of 小日本 (xiǎo Rìběn)

wúdàwúxiǎo

无大无小

[無大無小]

no matter how big or small
not distinguishing junior and senior

xiǎoxīnyìyì

小心翼翼

[小心翼翼]

cautious and solemn (idiom); very carefully
prudent
gently and cautiously

zhōngpiānxiǎoshuō

中篇小说

[中篇小說]

novella

shìjǐngxiǎomín

市井小民

[市井小民]

ordinary people
the hoi polloi
commoner

zuìxiǎo'èrchéng

最小二乘

[最小二乘]

least squares (math.)

ǎixiǎojīnghàn

矮小精悍

[矮小精悍]

short but intrepid (idiom)

yǐxiǎojǐdà

以小挤大

[以小擠大]

minor projects eclipse major ones (idiom)

tōngsúxiǎoshuō

通俗小说

[通俗小說]

popular fiction
light literature

léidàyǔxiǎo

雷大雨小

[雷大雨小]

lit. much thunder but little rain; fig. a lot of talk but little action
his bark is worse than his bite

péichàngxiǎojie

陪唱小姐

[陪唱小姐]

KTV hostess

dàdàxiǎoxiǎo

大大小小

[大大小小]

large and small; of all sizes

guómínxiǎoxué

国民小学

[國民小學]

elementary school (Tw)

xiǎocàidiér

小菜碟儿

[小菜碟兒]

erhua variant of 小菜一碟 (xiǎocàiyīdié)

yīngtáoxiǎokǒu

樱桃小口

[櫻桃小口]

see 櫻桃小嘴／樱桃小嘴 (yīngtáoxiǎozuǐ)

Xiǎohái Dífáng

小孩堤防

[小孩堤防]

Kinderdijk, village in the Netherlands with a large network of windmills attracting many tourists

shēngdǒuxiǎomín

升斗小民

[升斗小民]

(idiom) poor people; those who live from hand to mouth

yīxiǎobùfèn

一小部分

[一小部分]

a small part; a small section

gāojíxiǎoxué

高级小学

[高級小學]

advanced class of primary school

fēitóngxiǎokě

非同小可

[非同小可]

extremely important
no small matter

xiǎoqǐzhòngjī

小起重机

[小起重機]

jack

Gāgā Xiǎojie

嘎嘎小姐

[嘎嘎小姐]

Lady Gaga (1986-), US pop singer

hécháxiǎozǔ

核查小组

[核查小組]

inspection team

Xiǎoyuān Huìsān

小渊惠三

[小淵惠三]

Obuchi Keizo (1937-2000), Japanese politician, prime minister 1998-2000

rényúxiǎojie

人鱼小姐

[人魚小姐]

mermaid
the Little Mermaid

qí Bxiǎoduǎnqún

齐B小短裙

[齊B小短裙]

(slang) micro-miniskirt

xiǎo'érmábìzhèng

小儿麻痹症

[小兒麻痺症]

poliomyelitis
infantile paralysis

Xiǎoyě Bùyóuměi

小野不由美

[小野不由美]

Ono Fuyumi (1960-), Japanese novelist

yīngtáoxiǎofānqié

樱桃小番茄

[櫻桃小番茄]

see 聖女果／圣女果 (shèngnüguǒ)

zhēnzhūxiǎofānqié

珍珠小番茄

[珍珠小番茄]

see 聖女果／圣女果 (shèngnüguǒ)

jíduǎnpiānxiǎoshuō

极短篇小说

[極短篇小說]

flash fiction

Xiǎochí Bǎihézi

小池百合子

[小池百合子]

KOIKE Yuriko (1952-), Japanese LDP politician, minister of defense during 2008

héngbānfùxiǎoxiāo

横斑腹小鸮

[橫斑腹小鴞]

(bird species of China) spotted owlet (Athene brama)

Lánsèxiǎojīnglíng

蓝色小精灵

[藍色小精靈]

the Smurfs
Smurf

xiǎoxué'érdàyí

小学而大遗

[小學而大遺]

to concentrate on trivial points while neglecting the main problem (idiom)

zòngwénfùxiǎoxiāo

纵纹腹小鸮

[縱紋腹小鴞]

(bird species of China) little owl (Athene noctua)

Pǔshìxiǎolíngyáng

普氏小羚羊

[普氏小羚羊]

Przevalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) of Central Asia

xiǎosānquàntuìshī

小三劝退师

[小三勸退師]

consultant who breaks up sb's extramarital relationship for a fee

dàchángbāoxiǎocháng

大肠包小肠

[大腸包小腸]

small sausage in large sausage (pork sausage stuffed inside a glutinous rice sausage, a Taiwanese street food specialty)

xiǎobānzhuómùniǎo

小斑啄木鸟

[小斑啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor)

yīlǎnzhòngshānxiǎo

一览众山小

[一覽眾山小]

(last line of the poem 望岳 by Tang poet Du Fu 杜甫 ( Dù Fǔ)) with one look I shall see all the smaller mountains down below (from the summit of Mt Tai 泰山 ( Tài Shān))
(fig.) awe-inspiring view from a very high place

xiǎowūjiàndàwū

小巫见大巫

[小巫見大巫]

lit. minor magician in the presence of a great one (idiom)
fig. to pale into insignificance by comparison

wēixiǎobìngdúkē

微小病毒科

[微小病毒科]

Picornaviridae (virus family including many human pathogens); small RNA virus

Xiǎoquán Chúnyīláng

小泉纯一郎

[小泉純一郎]

KOIZUMI Jun'ichirō (1942-), Japanese LDP politician, prime minister 2001-2006

xiǎohuīshānjiāoniǎo

小灰山椒鸟

[小灰山椒鳥]

(bird species of China) Swinhoe's minivet (Pericrocotus cantonensis)

qūfēndàxiǎoxiě

区分大小写

[區分大小寫]

case sensitive
distinguishing capitals from lowercase letters

xiǎotūnshìxìbāo

小吞噬细胞

[小吞噬細胞]

microphage (a type of white blood cell)

xiǎolínxiōngjiāoméi

小鳞胸鹪鹛

[小鱗胸鷦鶥]

(bird species of China) pygmy wren-babbler (Pnoepyga pusilla)

Dèng Xiǎopíng Lǐlùn

邓小平理论

[鄧小平理論]

Deng Xiaoping Theory
Dengism
the foundation of PRC economic development after the Cultural Revolution, building the capitalist economy within Chinese Communist Party control

zhōngxiǎoxíngqǐyè

中小型企业

[中小型企業]

small or medium size enterprise (SME)

xiǎo'érruǎngǔbìng

小儿软骨病

[小兒軟骨病]

rickets (medicine)

dàyǎndèngxiǎoyǎn

大眼瞪小眼

[大眼瞪小眼]

(idiom) to look at each other, not knowing what to do

xiǎobǎikēquánshū

小百科全书

[小百科全書]

micropedia

zuìxiǎogōngfēnmǔ

最小公分母

[最小公分母]

lowest common denominator

xiǎobiéshèngxīnhūn

小别胜新婚

[小別勝新婚]

reunion after an absence is sweeter than being newlyweds (idiom)
absence makes the heart grow fonder

zuìxiǎopíngfāngfǎ

最小平方法

[最小平方法]

method of least squares (math.) (Tw)

xiǎotuántǐzhǔyì

小团体主义

[小團體主義]

cliquism
small-group mentality

xiǎofèngtóuyàn'ōu

小凤头燕鸥

[小鳳頭燕鷗]

(bird species of China) lesser crested tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)

zuìxiǎogōngbèishù

最小公倍数

[最小公倍數]

least common multiple

Aòzhōuxiǎoyīngwǔ

澳洲小鹦鹉

[澳洲小鸚鵡]

lorikeet

xiǎoxínghéwǔqì

小型核武器

[小型核武器]

mini-nuke

xiǎozǔwěiyuánhuì

小组委员会

[小組委員會]

subcommittee

xiǎozīchǎnjiējí

小资产阶级

[小資產階級]

petty bourgeois

xiǎobáiyāoyǔyàn

小白腰雨燕

[小白腰雨燕]

(bird species of China) house swift (Apus nipalensis)

xiǎohēilǐngzàoméi

小黑领噪鹛

[小黑領噪鶥]

(bird species of China) lesser necklaced laughingthrush (Garrulax monileger)

zhāngyúxiǎowánzi

章鱼小丸子

[章魚小丸子]

takoyaki (octopus dumpling), a Japanese snack food

kējìjīngsǒngxiǎoshuō

科技惊悚小说

[科技驚悚小說]

techno-thriller novel

xiǎo'érmábìbìngdú

小儿麻痹病毒

[小兒麻痺病毒]

poliovirus

bāxiǎoshígōngzuòzhì

八小时工作制

[八小時工作制]

eight-hour working day

bùqūfēndàxiǎoxiě

不区分大小写

[不區分大小寫]

case insensitive
not distinguishing capitals from lowercase letters

sīpèi'ěrtèxiǎomài

斯佩耳特小麦

[斯佩耳特小麥]

spelt (Triticum spelta) (loanword)

Zhōngguó Xiǎoshuō Shǐlüè

中国小说史略

[中國小說史略]

Concise History of the Chinese Novel by Lu Xun 魯迅／鲁迅 ( Lǔ Xùn)

Shìjiè Xiǎojie Xuǎnměi

世界小姐选美

[世界小姐選美]

Miss World Beauty Pageant

xiǎoxīngtóuzhuómùniǎo

小星头啄木鸟

[小星頭啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) Japanese pygmy woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)

shàngyǒulǎoxiàyǒuxiǎo

上有老下有小

[上有老下有小]

lit. above are the elderly, below are the young (idiom)
fig. to have to take care of both one's aging parents and one's children
sandwich generation

zhìdàguóruòpēngxiǎoxiān

治大国若烹小鲜

[治大國若烹小鮮]

ruling a large nation is like cooking a small delicacy (idiom)
effective government requires minimal intervention

dàrénbùjìxiǎorénguò

大人不记小人过

[大人不記小人過]

a person of great moral stature does not remember the offenses committed by one of low moral stature

wénzizàixiǎoyěshìròu

蚊子再小也是肉

[蚊子再小也是肉]

lit. even a mosquito, though tiny, provides some nourishment (idiom)
fig. it's better than nothing

xiǎokuíhuāfèngtóuyīngwǔ

小葵花凤头鹦鹉

[小葵花鳳頭鸚鵡]

(bird species of China) yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea)

xiǎobùrěnzéluàndàmóu

小不忍则乱大谋

[小不忍則亂大謀]

(idiom) great plans can be ruined by just a touch of impatience

chèngtuósuīxiǎoyāqiānjīn

秤砣虽小压千斤

[秤砣雖小壓千斤]

although small, a steelyard weight may tip a hundred pounds (idiom)
apparently insignificant details can have a large impact
for want of a nail the battle was lost

léishēngdà,yǔdiǎnxiǎo

雷声大，雨点小

[雷聲大，雨點小]

lit. loud thunder, but only tiny drops of rain (idiom)
fig. a lot of talk, but no action

jūnzǐbùjìxiǎorénguò

君子不计小人过

[君子不計小人過]

see 大人不記小人過／大人不记小人过 (dàrénbùjìxiǎorénguò)

xiǎodòngbùbǔdàdòngchīkǔ

小洞不补大洞吃苦

[小洞不補大洞吃苦]

A small hole not plugged will make you suffer a big hole (idiom); a stitch in time saves nine

Yánwánghǎojiàn,xiǎoguǐnándāng

阎王好见，小鬼难当

[閻王好見，小鬼難當]

lit. standing in front of the King of Hell is easy, but smaller devils are difficult to deal with (idiom)

dàshìhuàxiǎo,xiǎoshìhuàliǎo

大事化小，小事化了

[大事化小，小事化了]

to turn big problems into small ones, and small problems into no problems at all (idiom)

dàchùzhuóyǎn,xiǎochùzhuóshǒu

大处着眼，小处着手

[大處著眼，小處著手]

think of the big picture, start with the little things (idiom)

xiǎoshíliǎoliǎo,dàwèibìjiā

小时了了，大未必佳

[小時了了，大未必佳]

being bright at an early age does not necessarily bring success upon growing up (proverb)

máquèsuīxiǎo,wǔzàngjùquán

麻雀虽小，五脏俱全

[麻雀雖小，五臟俱全]

the sparrow may be small but all its vital organs are there (idiom)
small but complete in every detail

xiǎozuō-yíqíng,dàzuō-shāngshēn

小作怡情，大作伤身

[小作怡情，大作傷身]

an occasional display of histrionics can add a playful element to a relationship, but overdoing it can lead to a breakup (admonishment derived from the saying 小酌怡情，大酌傷身／小酌怡情，大酌伤身 (xiǎozhuo-yiqing,dàzhuo-shàngshèn))

yǐxiǎorénzhīxīn,duójūnzǐzhīfù

以小人之心，度君子之腹

[以小人之心，度君子之腹]