HSK 4, zg, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #1658, Hard
稍
shāo
a little
HSK 4, zg, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #1658, Hard
稍
shāo
somewhat, slightly, a little; rather
HSK 4, zg, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #1658, Hard
稍
shào
somewhat
HSK 4, zg, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #1658, Hard
稍
shào
a little
HSK 4, zg, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #1658, Hard
稍
shào
somewhat, slightly, a little; rather
HSK 4, zg, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #1658, Hard
shāo(shao1)
primary
T1
1somewhat
2a little
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
稍shāo(shao1)
The character 稍 (shāo) signifies a slight degree or small amount of something. It is commonly used to express moderation, indicating that something is not too much or an understatement, such as in phrases like 稍等 (shāo děng, 'wait a moment') or 稍微 (shāo wēi, 'a little bit').
Strokes12Radical禾Frequency#1658DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, politeness is key, and using 稍 can soften requests or statements, making them more courteous. For example, when asking someone to wait, saying 稍等 adds a layer of respect.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small flame (the radical '火' for fire) that is just 'a little' (稍) bit flickering. The flame represents the slightness of something, while the sound 'shāo' can remind you of 'shallow', which also suggests a little depth.
Meanings of 稍
shāo(shao1)
primary
1somewhat
2a little
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 稍
稍Simplified
12Strokes
禾Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#1658Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 稍
Podcast: 稍
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AI Study Notes for 稍
Quick Contrast
稍微 (shāo wēi) vs 稍 (shāo) — use 稍 when indicating a slight degree in a more concise context, while 稍微 emphasizes the smallness more explicitly.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small flame (the radical '火' for fire) that is just 'a little' (稍) bit flickering. The flame represents the slightness of something, while the sound 'shāo' can remind you of 'shallow', which also suggests a little depth.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of using 稍 in overly formal contexts; it is more appropriate in conversational settings. Common collocations include 稍微 (a little) and 稍等 (wait a moment). Confusing it with similar-sounding words, like 少 (shǎo, meaning 'few' or 'less'), can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although not in the standard HSK vocabulary, 稍 can be useful for learners at HSK 3-4 levels to enhance their ability to express moderation. Focus on its use in common phrases to build contextual understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, politeness is key, and using 稍 can soften requests or statements, making them more courteous. For example, when asking someone to wait, saying 稍等 adds a layer of respect.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 稍 with 少, using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '稍少' instead of '少' is incorrect; it should just be '少' to convey 'less'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 稍
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Grammar Patterns of 稍
稍 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
The slightest little bit of inattention can let something slip through.
10
我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
wǒ mén dān xīn shāo wēi diān bò yī xià jiù kě néng huì shǐ tā de shāng shì è huà。
We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.
Cultural Notes for 稍
💡Did you know?
In Chinese, the word 稍 is often used to express subtle differences. For example, saying 稍微 (shāo wēi) means 'slightly' or 'a little bit', which is commonly used in conversation to soften statements.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, politeness is key, and using 稍 can soften requests or statements, making them more courteous. For example, when asking someone to wait, saying 稍等 adds a layer of respect.
Word Family of 稍
Compounds2
潲shao4to sprinkle; driving rain
蕱
Words Containing This Character8
稍shāosomewhat
稍微shāowēia little bit
稍后shāohòuin a moment稍後
稍稍shāoshāosomewhat
稍息Taiwan pr. [shāoxī]
稍纵即逝transient稍縱即逝
稍许a little稍許
稍嫌somewhat
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 潲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 稍
In conversation, you might say, '稍等一下' (shāo děng yī xià), which translates to 'wait a moment.' Another example is '稍微好一点' (shāo wēi hǎo yī diǎn), meaning 'a little better.' These phrases help convey slight changes or requests.
While 稍 (shāo) and 少 (shǎo) both relate to quantity, they are used differently. 少 means 'few' or 'little' in terms of countable amounts, while 稍 is more about degree, implying a small extent or degree of something.
稍 (shāo) means 'somewhat' or 'a little' in Chinese. It is often used to indicate a small degree of something. For example, in phrases like 稍等 (shāo děng), it means 'wait a moment.'
You can use 稍 (shāo) in sentences to express a slight degree, such as in 稍微 (shāo wēi), which means 'a little.' For example, you can say '我稍微累了' (wǒ shāo wēi lèi le) to mean 'I am a little tired.'
You can use 稍 to indicate a small amount, such as in '稍等一下' (shāo děng yīxià), meaning 'wait a moment'.
It's generally more informal and is best used in spoken language or casual writing.
稍 (shāo) means 'a little' or 'somewhat', while 少 (shǎo) refers specifically to 'less' or 'few'.
