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March 24, 2026
寥寥无几(寥寥無幾)liáoliáowújǐ(liao2liao2wu2ji3)
The idiom 寥寥无几 (liao2 liao2 wu2 ji3) refers to a very small quantity, indicating that something is scarce or hardly present. It is often used to describe a situation where the number of items or people is so minimal that one could count them easily, emphasizing their rarity or lack.
Frequency#36167DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the expression reflects a value placed on abundance and community, where having a few of something can symbolize a lack of resources or support. It can be particularly relevant in discussions about population density or economic resources.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vast, empty landscape with just a few lonely trees scattered around. The trees are so few that you could count them on your fingers - this visualizes the idea of 寥寥无几, where '寥' (liao) suggests sparsity and '无几' (wu ji) reinforces the concept of 'not many.'
Meanings of 寥寥无几
liáoliáowújǐ(liao2liao2wu2ji3)
1just a very few (idiom); tiny number
2not many at all
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About 寥寥无几
寥寥无几Simplified
寥寥無幾Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 寥寥无几
Podcast: 寥寥无几
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AI Study Notes for 寥寥无几
Quick Contrast
稀少 (xī shǎo) vs 寥寥无几 (liáoliáowújǐ) — use 寥寥无几 to emphasize the countability and rarity of the small quantity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a vast, empty landscape with just a few lonely trees scattered around. The trees are so few that you could count them on your fingers - this visualizes the idea of 寥寥无几, where '寥' (liao) suggests sparsity and '无几' (wu ji) reinforces the concept of 'not many.'
Usage Notes
This idiom is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in written language. Be careful not to confuse it with similar expressions that imply a moderate quantity. Common collocations include '人' (people) or '物' (objects), e.g., '这里的人寥寥无几' (There are only a few people here).
HSK Study Tips
While 寥寥无几 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, its components such as '无' (wu) and '几' (ji) are essential at HSK 2. Students should focus on understanding the idiomatic nature of this phrase and its application in contexts describing scarcity.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the expression reflects a value placed on abundance and community, where having a few of something can symbolize a lack of resources or support. It can be particularly relevant in discussions about population density or economic resources.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 寥寥无几 with similar phrases like '不多' (not many), which does not convey the same level of scarcity. For example, saying '这里的人不多' (There are not many people here) lacks the emphasis on how few they actually are, which is captured in 寥寥无几.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寥寥无几
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Cultural Notes for 寥寥无几
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the expression reflects a value placed on abundance and community, where having a few of something can symbolize a lack of resources or support. It can be particularly relevant in discussions about population density or economic resources.
Frequently Asked Questions about 寥寥无几
Not really; this idiom emphasizes a very small number, not just mild scarcity.
It's best used in written reports or discussions about statistics where you want to highlight a lack of quantity.
A close equivalent would be 'few and far between' or 'a handful.'
