Meanings of 少
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Podcast: 少
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AI study notes for 少
少 (shǎo) vs 轻 (qīng) — use 少 for small quantity or degree, while 轻 emphasizes lightness or lack of weight.
Common mistakes include confusing '少' with '多' (duō), which means 'many' or 'more.' Remember that '少' is more informal and often used in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; 'shǎo' should be pronounced with a falling-rising tone.
As an HSK Level 1 word, '少' connects with other basic vocabulary related to quantities and descriptions. Focus on using it in simple sentences to describe amounts, such as '少吃' (eat less) or '我很少去' (I seldom go).
Learners often misuse '少' by saying '我有少很多钱' (I have few a lot of money), which is incorrect. The correct phrase is '我有很少的钱' (I have very little money).
Pronunciation of 少
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 少
Pictograph of four small dots, representing grains of sand or rice, to convey the meaning "less". Similar to 小.
Grains of sand; 小 provides the pronunciation and meaning
Origin
What kind of character is 少?
Decomposition of 少
Parts
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How to say few in Chinese
“few” in Chinese is少
The character '少' (shǎo) primarily means 'few' or 'less,' indicating a small quantity or degree. It can also imply a lack of something or that something is missing. In certain contexts, it carries the nuance of youth or being young.
When to use 少
Common mistakes include confusing '少' with '多' (duō), which means 'many' or 'more.' Remember that '少' is more informal and often used in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; 'shǎo' should be pronounced with a falling-rising tone.
少 or something close to it
少 (shǎo) vs 轻 (qīng) — use 少 for small quantity or degree, while 轻 emphasizes lightness or lack of weight.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse '少' by saying '我有少很多钱' (I have few a lot of money), which is incorrect. The correct phrase is '我有很少的钱' (I have very little money).
Write 少
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Practice writing 少 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 少
少 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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这件衣服多____钱？
How much is this piece of clothing?
Example sentences for 少 (15)
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “I try to offend the least amount of people possible.”
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Word Family of 少
Characters with 少
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Frequently asked questions about 少
'少' means 'few' or 'less' in quantity, while '不够' means 'not enough,' indicating a deficiency in amount.
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