The word "小淘气" is formed by the character 小, meaning "small", prefixed to the compound 淘气, which means "naughty". 淘气 itself combines 淘, here implying "to stir up" or "unruly behavior", with 气, meaning "spirit" or "energy", so 小淘气 literally denotes a "small naughty spirit" and is used to refer to a mischievous child.