How common it is
小于 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xiǎoyú slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
小于用于比较两个数，表示前面的数比后面的数小。
Xiǎoyú yòng yú bǐjiào liǎng gè shù, biǎoshì qiánmiàn de shù bǐ hòumiàn de shù xiǎo.
Xiaoyu is used to compare two numbers, meaning the first number is smaller than the second.
Context note
小于常用于数学中，表示数量关系。
Xiǎoyú chángyòng yú shùxué zhōng, biǎoshì shùliàng guānxì.
Xiaoyu is often used in math to show quantity relationships.
5 examples
2小于3，这是对的。
2 xiǎo yú 3， zhè shì duì de。
Two is less than three, this is correct.
5小于8，所以5更小。
5 xiǎo yú 8， suǒ yǐ 5 gèng xiǎo。
Five is less than eight, so five is smaller.
1小于10，1很小。
1 xiǎo yú 1 0， 1 hěn xiǎo。
One is less than ten, one is very small.
4小于7，4比7小。
4 xiǎo yú 7， 4 bǐ 7 xiǎo。
Four is less than seven, four is smaller than seven.
6小于9，6更少。
6 xiǎo yú 9， 6 gèng shǎo。
Six is less than nine, six is fewer.
5 mini stories
小明说2小于3，老师点头。
xiǎo míng shuō 2 xiǎo yú 3， lǎo shī diǎn tóu。
Xiao Ming said two is less than three, the teacher nodded.
小红发现5小于8，她很高兴。
xiǎo hóng fā xiàn 5 xiǎo yú 8， tā hěn gāo xìng。
Xiao Hong found that five is less than eight, she was very happy.
小华说1小于10，大家都同意。
xiǎo huá shuō 1 xiǎo yú 1 0， dà jiā dōu tóng yì。
Xiao Hua said one is less than ten, everyone agreed.
在数学课上，我们学4小于7。
zài shù xué kè shàng， wǒ men xué 4 xiǎo yú 7。
In math class, we learned four is less than seven.
小刚说6小于9，这是对的。
xiǎo gāng shuō 6 xiǎo yú 9， zhè shì duì de。
Xiao Gang said six is less than nine, this is correct.