寥 liáo few
few; scarce; empty
How to remember 寥: 宀 house + 翏 soar high = few. Above grandpa's old house, pigeons used to soar high in hundreds, but this spring only a few come back.
Component breakdown
寥 = 宀 house + 翏 soar high
- 宀 house
- 翏 soar high
Above grandpa's old house, pigeons used to soar high in hundreds, but this spring only a few come back.
How it is used
- Few and far between / empty: 寥寥无几 (liáoliáo-wújǐ) precious few, 寥寥数语 (liáoliáo shùyǔ) just a few words.
- 寂寥 (jìliáo) = lonely and desolate. Literary in tone.