Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Small

Reading: SHOU, ko-, chiisai

Strokes: 3

Etymology: Often said to be a pictograph of a person with arms at side, looking small.  However, this character is actually a representation of 3 small points.

The long middle stroke seems to represent the concept of one large item being divided into two smaller items.


Mnemonic:  A STROKE DIVIDED INTO TWO SMALL ONES.

Combinations:

子犬 (koinu) puppy
小人 (kobito) dwarf / elf
小川 (ogawa)  stream

(Based upon Henshall, 1998)

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