大小(だいしょう)

大小(だいしょう) combines 大(だい) (large) and 小(しょう) (small). It refers either to things of various sizes or to size as a concept.

USAGE:
As a noun, it can mean both 'large and small things' and 'size' (as a dimension).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• 大小(だいしょう)さまざまな: of various sizes
• 大小(だいしょう)の差(さ): difference in size
• 大小(だいしょう)にかかわらず: regardless of size
• 大小(だいしょう)2つの〜: two ~, one large and one small

SIMILAR COMPOUND PATTERNS:

• 多少(たしょう): more or less, somewhat (quantity)
• 長短(ちょうたん): long and short; pros and cons
• 高低(こうてい): high and low; pitch variation

These paired-kanji compounds (対義語(たいぎご) combinations) are common in Japanese.