Japanese symbol for “smallest”
最小
さいしょう
Romaji: saishou
smallest (in size, degree, etc.); least; minimum; minimal
In Japanese, smallest is 最小, read さいしょう (saishou).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- adj-no, n smallest (in size, degree, etc.); least; minimum; minimal
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “smallest”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最少 | さいしょう saishou | fewest; least; smallest (number) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最近 | さいきん saikin | recently; lately; these days |
| 最後 | さいご saigo | end; conclusion |
| 最初 | さいしょ saisho | beginning; outset; first |
| 最高 | さいこう saikou | best; supreme; wonderful |
| 最終 | さいしゅう saishuu | last; final; closing |
| 最大 | さいだい saidai | biggest; greatest; largest |
| 小説 | しょうせつ shousetsu | novel; story; (work of) fiction |
| 小学校 | しょうがっこう shougakkou | primary school; elementary school; grade school |
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.