小
so
小 is not 'small', it is 'the edges pulled inward'
The picture Edges that had been spread out being pulled inward so the space taken up narrows. 小 pulls the edges inward; 大 pushes the edges outward.
Where the picture shows up in 小
-
a frame drawn in
소형(小型) 차를 빌렸어요.
so-hyeong cha-reul bil-lyeo-sseo-yo
I rented a compact car.
The same car pulled in tight enough to slip into a single parking space
-
sides tugged inward
올해 예산을 축소(縮小)했어요.
ol-hae ye-sa-neul chuk-so-hae-sseo-yo
We cut the budget this year.
Hands pulling the four sides of a wide rectangle inward until it is narrow
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the floor you cannot go under
최소(最小) 두 명은 있어야 해요.
choe-so du myeong-eun i-sseo-ya hae-yo
You need at least two people.
The floor line below which it would collapse, with the shrinking stopped right on that line
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a body not yet spread out
아이는 소아과(小兒科)로 가세요.
a-i-neun so-a-gwa-ro ga-se-yo
Take the child to the children's clinic.
A small body still stopped at about half an adult's height, standing at the clinic door
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a bundle tied in tight
어제 소포(小包)를 보냈어요.
eo-je so-po-reul bo-nae-sseo-yo
I sent a small package yesterday.
Not a big load but something drawn in and tied so it fits in one hand
All of it in one picture
小 is the picture of edges pulled inward. When a car draws itself in, it is compact; when the four sides of a budget rectangle get tugged inward, that is a cut. Touch the floor line below which it would collapse and that is the minimum; a body not yet spread to adult size is a child. And when a big load is drawn in tight enough to carry in one hand, it becomes a parcel.