小 xiǎo
“small; tiny; few”
adjective, adverbial adjectiveHSK 1 · 2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
小 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 234: 小 xiǎo — Level 1; official annotation 1 (形、前缀). PDF page 85
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 小
小 means "small" and is used before nouns to describe size, or after a noun with 很/不 to say something is small. The typical pattern is 小 + noun (小房子, 小猫) or noun + 很/不 + 小.
例句Example sentences
- 这是我的小房间。zhè shì wǒ de xiǎo fáng jiān.This is my small room.
- 那只小猫很小。nà zhī xiǎo māo hěn xiǎo.That kitten is very small.
- 我的杯子不小。wǒ de bēi zi bù xiǎo.My cup is not small.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗这个房子小很。
✓这个房子很小。
Adverbs like 很 must come before the adjective, not after it.
易混词Easily confused
小vs少
小 is about size (small); 少 is about quantity (few/little). Use 小 for things that are not big, 少 for amounts that are not many.