小型
xiǎoxíng · HSK 4
miniature
🔬 小型 = small + type/form; literally 'small-shaped', i.e. miniature
小 means small and 型 means type, model, or form (as in 类型 lèixíng 'category'). Together 小型 labels something built to a small-scale form factor — compact cars, miniature drones, scaled-down equipment.
小 — three small strokes around a central vertical
小 is a pictograph originally showing three tiny dots or specks, suggesting small particles or grains. Over time the dots became stylized strokes flanking a central line. The core meaning 'small' has stayed remarkably stable from oracle bone script to today.
型 — earth 土 + 刑 (xíng, phonetic)
型 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The 土 (earth) component points to its original meaning: a clay or earthen mold used for casting. The right side 刑 supplies the sound. From 'casting mold' it broadened to mean 'model, type, pattern' in modern usage.