少
Character
few; not many; a small amount of something
Readings and meanings
- few; not many; a small amount of something
- less; fewer (than something else)
- to lack; to not have enough of something
Examples
今天学生很少。
jīn tiān xué shēng hěn shǎo
There are very few students today.
AI-generated sentence
请少喝咖啡，多喝水。
qǐng shǎo hē kā fēi, duō hē shuǐ
Please drink less coffee and drink more water.
AI-generated sentence
我家少了两个椅子。
wǒ jiā shǎo le liǎng gè yǐ zi
My home is lacking two chairs.
AI-generated sentence
Words that use “少” as shǎo
多少duō shǎohow many? how much? used to ask about a number, amount, or priceWordHSK 1不少bù shǎoquite a lotWordHSK 2少数shǎo shùa small number of people or thingsWordHSK 2缺少quē shǎoto lack somethingWordHSK 3至少zhì shǎoat leastWordHSK 3减少jiǎn shǎoto make something smaller in number or amountWordHSK 4少有shǎo yǒuvery rareWordHSK 7–9少见shǎo jiànrareWordHSK 7–9
shào
shao4Reading 2- young CC-CEDICT
Words that use “少” as shào
少年shào niána young person, usually a boy, of about ten to eighteen years…WordHSK 2青少年qīng shào niána teenagerWordHSK 2少儿shào éra childWordHSK 6少女shào nǚa young girl, usually a teenagerWordHSK 7–9少林寺shào lín sìShaolin Temple, a famous Chinese temple where monks do kung fuWordHSK 7–9少东shào dōngboss's sonWord少壮shào zhuàngyoung and strongWord少妇shào fùyoung married womanWord
Stroke order
All 4 strokes
Speed
Practice writing 少
Draw “少” here — the faint guide shows its shape.