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筱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
筱xiǎodwarf bamboo; a diminutive in a nicknameg, 13 strokes, radical ⺮
筱xiǎothin bamboounknown, 13 strokes, radical ⺮
xiǎo(xiao3) T3
  1. 1dwarf bamboo; a diminutive in a nickname
  2. 2thin bamboo
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

筱xiǎo(xiao3)

The character 筱 (xiǎo) refers to a type of small bamboo known for its slender appearance. It is often used in literary contexts to evoke delicacy or smallness. Additionally, it can serve as a diminutive in nicknames, adding an affectionate or endearing nuance.

Strokes13Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, bamboo is a symbol of resilience and flexibility, representing the ideal traits of a person. The use of 筱 can evoke a sense of grace and elegance, often associated with poetry and art that celebrate nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny, thin bamboo plant swaying gently in the breeze. The character 筱 resembles a lush bamboo grove, where the two 'slashes' on top can remind you of slender bamboo stalks reaching upwards. Think of 'xiǎo' as the sound of a whispering breeze through these delicate plants.

Meanings of 筱

xiǎo(xiao3)
1dwarf bamboo; a diminutive in a nickname
2thin bamboo
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 筱

筱Simplified
13Strokes
⺮Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 筱

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Podcast: 筱

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AI Study Notes for 筱

Usage Notes

While 筱 is not frequently used in everyday conversation, it may appear in poetry or as part of names. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial, and using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. It's most often used in informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 筱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it shares the 'xiǎo' sound with the common word 小, which means 'small.' Focus on the pronunciation and context in which diminutives are used, as they often add nuance to descriptions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 筱 with the more common character 小 (small), using it inappropriately in sentences. For example, saying '我有很多筱的东西' (I have many small things) is incorrect; instead, use 小 ('我有很多小的东西').

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 筱

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Etymology of 筱

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Distant 攸 bamboo ⺮; 小 provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 筱

  1. 1The giveawayDistant 攸 bamboo ⺮; 小 provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 筱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 筱?

Decomposition of 筱

IDS Structure⿱⺮攸
筱Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
攸you1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 筱?

How to say dwarf bamboo; a diminutive in a nickname in Chinese

“dwarf bamboo; a diminutive in a nickname” in Chinese is筱xiǎo

The character 筱 (xiǎo) refers to a type of small bamboo known for its slender appearance. It is often used in literary contexts to evoke delicacy or smallness. Additionally, it can serve as a diminutive in nicknames, adding an affectionate or endearing nuance.

When to use 筱

While 筱 is not frequently used in everyday conversation, it may appear in poetry or as part of names. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial, and using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. It's most often used in informal contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 筱 with the more common character 小 (small), using it inappropriately in sentences. For example, saying '我有很多筱的东西' (I have many small things) is incorrect; instead, use 小 ('我有很多小的东西').

Write 筱

筱

Practice writing 筱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 筱

Words Containing This Character1
筱xiǎodwarf bamboo
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 筱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 筱

It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but can be found in poetry or as part of affectionate nicknames.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 筱?

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