Meaning
小说 refers to literary fiction or novels. It encompasses all forms of fictional narrative prose, from short stories to full-length novels. The term literally means 'small talk' or 'trivial accounts,' historically referring to minor tales as opposed to serious historical or philosophical writings.
Usage
This is the standard term for novels in modern Chinese. It's commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when discussing literature. People often specify types of novels by adding descriptors before it, like 科幻小说 (science fiction) or 言情小说 (romance novel).
Examples
- 01我最近在看一本武侠小说。.I'm reading a martial arts novel recently.
- 02她的梦想是成为一名小说家。.Her dream is to become a novelist.
Characters
Measure words
- 本一本小说
- 部一部小说
Common collocations
- 看小说to read novels
- 写小说to write novels
- 长篇小说full-length novel
- 科幻小说science fiction novel
Antonyms
Origin
The term emerged in classical Chinese to describe minor anecdotes or trivial tales (literally 'small talk'), distinguishing them from grand historical chronicles. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it evolved to refer to fictional narratives, eventually becoming the standard modern term for novels.