小说 xiǎoshuō novel
novel; fiction
How to remember 小说: 小 small + 说 say = novel.
Characters
How it is used
- A novel / work of fiction - 看小说 (kàn xiǎoshuō) read a novel, 写小说 write fiction.
- 说 read shuō; literally 'small talk', historically 'minor tales' vs official history. Measure word 部 or 本.
- Contrast 故事 (gùshi), a story (any narrative); 小说 is specifically written fiction as a literary genre.
Example sentences
- 我喜欢看小说。 Wǒ xǐhuan kàn xiǎoshuō.I like reading novels.
- 她在5年里写了5本小说。 Tā zài 5niánlǐ xiě le 5běn xiǎoshuō.She wrote 5 novels in 5 years.
- 你读完那本小说了吗？ Nǐ dúwán nàběn xiǎoshuō le ma?Have you finished reading that novel?