Definition
小字 has two distinct meanings. The first is 'small characters' — referring to smaller font sizes in printing or calligraphy, as opposed to 大字 (large characters). The second is 'childhood name' or 'baby name' (also called 小名 or 乳名) — a pet name used within the family during early childhood, often different from the formal given name. Both are nouns, and context determines which sense is intended.
n.
small characters (smaller font size in printing, calligraphy, etc.)childhood namebaby name (pet name used in the family)
Examples
- 小字，。Zhè běn shū de zhèngwén yòng xiǎo zì páiyìn, zhùshì yòng gèng xiǎo de zì.The main text of this book is printed in small characters, and the footnotes use even smaller ones.
- 小字“”，。Tā de xiǎo zì jiào “Ā Bǎo”, jiālǐ rén dōu zhème jiào tā.His childhood name is 'Abao', and everyone in the family calls him that.
- 小字，。Gǔdài wénrén cháng yǐ xiǎo zì tíxiě shīgǎo, xiǎnde qīnqiè.Ancient literati often used their childhood names to inscribe poem drafts, which came across as intimate.
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