How common it is
少 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say shǎo slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
少用来表示数量不多，比如少量的水果或很少的人。
shǎo lái yòng lái bǎo shí nù liàng bù duō ， rú kě làng shuǐ huǒ guǒ huò hěn shǎo de rén 。
少 is used to indicate a small amount, such as a few fruits or very few people.
Context note
少常用于描述数量不多的情况，比如购物时说‘我只需要少量的牛奶’。
shǎo cháng yòng yú miáo huì liàng shù bù duō de kuàng jí ， rú kě gòu wù shí shuō ‘ wǒ zhǐ xū yào xiǎo lán de nǎi rú ’ 。
少 is commonly used to describe situations where the quantity is not much, such as when shopping and saying 'I only need a little milk.'
5 examples
我只有一点少的钱。
wǒ zhǐ yǒu yì diǎn shǎo de qián。
I only have a little money.
他买了一些少的水果。
tā mǎi le yì xiē shǎo de shuǐ guǒ。
He bought some few fruits.
我们这里很少有人来。
wǒ men zhè lǐ hěn shǎo yǒu rén lái。
There are very few people coming here.
这是一份少的午餐。
zhè shì yí fèn shǎo de wǔ cān。
This is a light lunch.
我只想要少量的面包。
wǒ zhī xiǎng yào shǎo liàng de miàn bāo。
I only want a little bread.
5 mini stories
妈妈买了一些少的水果，放在冰箱里。
mā ma mǎi le yì xiē shǎo de shuǐ guǒ， fàng zài bīng xiāng lǐ。
Mom bought some few fruits and put them in the fridge.
爸爸说我们这里很少有人来。
bà ba shuō wǒ men zhè lǐ hěn shǎo yǒu rén lái。
Dad said there are very few people coming here.
我只想要少量的面包，因为我不饿。
wǒ zhī xiǎng yào shǎo liàng de miàn bāo， yīn wèi wǒ bú è。
I only want a little bread because I am not hungry.
这是一份少的午餐，适合小朋友。
zhè shì yí fèn shǎo de wǔ cān， shì hé xiǎo péng yǒu。
This is a light lunch, suitable for little friends.
我们这里很少有人来，所以很安静。
wǒ men zhè lǐ hěn shǎo yǒu rén lái， suǒ yǐ hěn ān jìng。
There are very few people coming here, so it is very quiet.