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少不了 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
少不了shǎobuliǎocannot do withoutHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #19081, Very Hard
少不了shǎobuliǎoto be unavoidableHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #19081, Very Hard
少不了shǎobuliǎoare bound to be manyHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #19081, Very Hard
shǎobuliǎo(shao3bu5liao3) T3
  1. 1cannot do without
  2. 2to be unavoidable
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March 24, 2026

少不了shǎobuliǎo(shao3bu5liao3)

少不了 (shao3 bu5 liao3) means 'cannot do without' or 'to be unavoidable.' It is often used to express that something is essential or inevitable in a given situation, emphasizing the necessity of an element in various contexts, like relationships, tasks, or experiences.

Strokes10Frequency#19081DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'cannot do without' often reflects the importance of relationships and community, where certain social obligations or connections are deemed essential, such as family gatherings during festivals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small child (少) who cannot go to the playground without their favorite toy (不了). The child’s enjoyment is incomplete (unable) without the toy, symbolizing that certain things are essential to happiness and experiences.

Meanings of 少不了

shǎobuliǎo(shao3bu5liao3)
1cannot do without
2to be unavoidable
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About 少不了

少不了Simplified
10Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 少不了

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AI Study Notes for 少不了

Quick Contrast

不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) — use 少不了 (shǎobuliǎo) when emphasizing inevitability in a situation, while 不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) stresses essentiality in terms of necessity.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 少不了 with other similar expressions. It is generally informal and may be used in everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Pay attention to its tone; using it in a serious context might change its connotation.

HSK Study Tips

While 少不了 is not an official HSK word, it connects well with HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary around daily life and necessities. Focus on using it in sentences about daily routines and emphasize practice in spoken scenarios.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is saying '少不来' instead of '少不了.' The former is incorrect and doesn’t convey the intended meaning. Always ensure to use the correct tones and characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 少不了

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Component Characters

少shǎofew
HSK 14 strokes小
View full entry
不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
了le(modal particle intensifying preceding clause)
HSK 12 strokes亅
View full entry

How to say cannot do without in Chinese

“cannot do without” in Chinese is少不了shǎobuliǎo

少不了 (shao3 bu5 liao3) means 'cannot do without' or 'to be unavoidable.' It is often used to express that something is essential or inevitable in a given situation, emphasizing the necessity of an element in various contexts, like relationships, tasks, or experiences.

When to use 少不了

Learners often confuse 少不了 with other similar expressions. It is generally informal and may be used in everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Pay attention to its tone; using it in a serious context might change its connotation.

少不了 or something close to it

不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) — use 少不了 (shǎobuliǎo) when emphasizing inevitability in a situation, while 不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) stresses essentiality in terms of necessity.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is saying '少不来' instead of '少不了.' The former is incorrect and doesn’t convey the intended meaning. Always ensure to use the correct tones and characters.

Write 少不了

少
不
了

Practice writing 少不了 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 少不了

It's better suited for casual conversations; formal contexts may require alternatives.

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