少
shǎo
HSK 1
#233 most
frequent character
few, little, lack
adjective
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
少 is built on 小 xiǎo, which points to 'small in amount' and also gives the sound. A small 丿 distinguishes it from 小. The first meaning was 'few, less'. For shǎo it grew to 'to lack'; for shào it grew to 'young'.
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Example Sentences
我只有少量的钱。
wǒ zhǐyǒu shǎoliàng de qián 。
I only have a little money.
这本书很少有人读。
zhè běn shū hěnshǎo yǒurén dú 。
Very few people read this book.
我们需要少一点盐。
wǒmen xūyào shǎo yīdiǎn yán 。
We need a little less salt.
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