小于 xiǎoyú less than, <
How to remember 小于: 小 small + 于 at = less than, <.
Characters
How it is used
- The math relation "less than (<)": A 小于 B (A xiǎoyú B) A is less than B.
- Technical/mathematical register, mirrored by 大于 (greater than) and 等于 (equal to).
- Not used in everyday speech for "smaller"; that's 比……小.