HSK · Level 17
135 words
Chinese word
从小
Pronunciation
Pinyincóng xiǎo
Meaning
- adverbsince childhood
Example
她从小就爱音乐。tā cóng xiǎo jiù ài yīn yuè
She has loved music since childhood.
More examples
他从小就会游泳。tā cóng xiǎo jiù huì yóu yǒng
He has been able to swim since he was little.
Core concept
An early starting point for a lasting habit, quality, or state.
Common phrases
从小就cóng xiǎo jiù
from a young age
从小学会cóng xiǎo xué huì
learn at a young age
Definition in Chinese
表示某种品质、习惯或状态从幼年开始形成并持续到现在。biǎo shì móu zhǒng pǐn zhì xí guàn huò zhuàng tài cóng yòu nián kāi shǐ xíng chéng bìng chí xù dào xiàn zài
Word origin
从 (cóng, "from") + 小 (xiǎo, "young") forms 从小 (cóngxiǎo, "from childhood"), marking childhood as the starting time.
Usage tips
- English often puts "since childhood" later in a sentence, while this Chinese adverb normally appears before the action or quality it dates.
Opposites
- 长大后zhǎng dà hòuafter growing upadverb
Related words
- 从小到大cóng xiǎo dào dàfrom childhood to adulthoodadverb