Definition
少 (shǎo) means 'few, little' in quantity, or 'to lack, be missing' something. It contrasts with 小 (xiǎo) 'small in size' — 少 is about number/amount, not physical size. As a verb meaning 'to lack', it's more common in everyday speech than the formal 无 (wú) or the HSK3 不见 (bù jiàn) which means 'disappear' (a person/object gone).
fewlittle (in number or quantity)to lackto be missingto do lessseldom
Easily confused
- 烧shāosound-aliketo burn
- 稍shāosound-alikea little, slightly, somewhat
- 捎shāosound-aliketo bring something to someone; to deliver
- 哨shàosound-alikewhistle
Examples
- 少。Wǒ de qián hěn shǎo.I have very little money.
- 少。Hái shǎo yí gè rén.One person is still missing.
- 少。Wǒ shǎo chī píngguǒ.I eat fewer apples / I seldom eat apples.
Grammar
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