小乘

Xiǎoshèng
proper noun

Meanings

  1. 1 Hīnayāna
  2. 2 the Lesser Vehicle (early Buddhism, roughly Theravāda)

Examples

HSK 7-9
Xiǎoshèng fójiào zhùzhòng gèrén de jiětuō.
Hīnayāna Buddhism focuses on individual liberation.
HSK 7-9
Dōngnányà fójiào dàduō shǔyú Xiǎoshèng yíxì.
Buddhism in Southeast Asia is mostly of the Theravāda tradition.

Tips

usage
The 乘 is the Buddhist 'vehicle' reading, same as in 大乘. Note that 小乘 was originally a pejorative coined by Mahāyāna schools; modern scholars usually prefer 上座部 (Theravāda) when referring to the tradition itself.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo
乘 chéng