cung4 siu2從小从小

Jyutpingcung4 siu2

Yalechùhng síu

副詞

Definition

Since childhood; from a young age.

neutraltime

How it's used

While standard in written Chinese, native speakers often prefer the more colloquial phrase 由細開始 or 由細到大 when speaking. Using 從小 in casual conversation can sound slightly formal or literary, similar to using 'from a young age' instead of 'since I was a kid' in English.

Examples

keoi5佢cung4從siu2小zau6就zung1鍾ji3意waak6畫waa2畫。

He has liked drawing since he was a child.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪cung4從siu2小zau6就zyu6住hai2喺ni1呢dou6度aa4呀？

Have you lived here since you were a child?

Common phrases

cung4從siu2小dou3到daai6大

from childhood to adulthood

cung4從siu2小pui4培joeng5養

cultivate from a young age

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 從小 as a noun phrase to mean 'childhood', but it is strictly an adverbial phrase describing when an action started. If you want to talk about the period of childhood itself, use 細個 or 童年 instead.