少 shǎo few
few; little
shǎo (few; little) and shào (young) - 很少 hěn shǎo seldom, 少年 shàonián a youth
How it came to be
Three specks with a fourth stroke falling away from them. Something already small, with a piece coming off it.
How it is used
- Read shǎo it means few / little, the opposite of 多 - 很少 (hěn shǎo) very few, 减少 (jiǎnshǎo) reduce, 缺少 (quēshǎo) lack, 很多 (hěn duō) very many.
- Read shào it means young - 少年 (shàonián) youth. Watch tone in 多少 (duōshao) how many.
Characters built with 少
Words with 少
- 多少duōshǎohow manyHSK 1
- 至少zhìshǎoat leastHSK 4
- 减少jiǎnshǎoreduceHSK 4
- 缺少quēshǎoto lackHSK 4
- 少年shàoniánearly youthHSK 4
- 少数shǎoshùsmall numberHSK 4
- 少见shǎojiànrareHSK 4
- 少量shǎoliànga smidgenHSK 4
- 少儿shào’érchildHSK 6
- 少不了shǎobuliǎocannot do withoutHSK 7
- 少女shàonǚgirlHSK 7
- 必不可少bìbùkěshǎoabsolutely necessaryHSK 7
- 或多或少huòduō-huòshǎomore or lessHSK 7
- 稀少xīshǎosparseHSK 9
Example sentences
- 路上的行人很少。 Lùshang de xíngrén hěn shǎo.There are very few pedestrians on the street.
- 这件衣服多少钱？ Zhè jiàn yīfu duōshǎo qián?How much does the suit cost?
- 她是少数民族。 Tā shì shǎoshù mínzú.She is an ethnic minority.
- 少年们很活泼。 Shàoniánmen hěn huópo.The young boys are very spirited.