Xiǎo Shǔ (Minor Heat) is the eleventh of China’s twenty-four traditional solar terms, occurring around July 6–8 each year when the sun reaches celestial longitude 105°. It marks the beginning of the hottest period before the peak heat of Dà Shǔ (Major Heat), reflecting gradual temperature rise and increasing humidity in most regions of China.

The character 小 (xiǎo) means 'small' or 'minor', while 暑 (shǔ) means 'heat'—together they literally mean 'minor heat'. Unlike ordinary weather terms, Xiǎo Shǔ is not a description of daily conditions but a precise astronomical and agricultural marker rooted in ancient Chinese calendrical science. It traditionally signals key farming activities: harvesting early wheat, transplanting late rice, and guarding against pests and drought during rising temperatures.