HSK Guide

少 shǎo — few, little, not much

shǎo (third tone, dipping)shao3

few, little, not much

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardadjective
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Meanings

  1. few, little, not much

    Small in quantity, the opposite of 多. Like 多 it needs a degree adverb as a predicate: 人很少, not 人少.

    adjective

Character breakdown

  • 少
    shǎo (third tone, dipping) shào (fourth tone, falling)

    few, little; to be short of, to be missing; (shào) young

    4 strokesRadical 小

Example sentences

  • 今天商店里人很少。今天商店裡人很少。Jīntiān (first tone, high and level) shāngdiàn (first tone, high and level) lǐ (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) shǎo. (third tone, dipping)···

    There are hardly any people in the shop today.

  • 我的钱很少。我的錢很少。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) qián (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) shǎo. (third tone, dipping)···

    I have very little money.

Similar words

Words containing 少