少

shǎo/
shào
HSK 1HSK 1 (Write)HSK 2 (Write)Most Common

Basic Meaning

adj
few; little; small in amount or number
An adjective describing a small quantity. The opposite of 多 (duo1).
数量小（跟“多”相对）。
Words:
少量少许少数少些凶多吉少
Synonyms:
寡 稀
Antonyms:
多 众
Sentences:
  1. 今(jīn)天(tiān)来(lái)上(shàng)课(kè)的(de)学(xué)生(shēng)很(hěn)少(shǎo)
    Very few students came to class today.
  2. 我(wǒ)只(zhǐ)放(fàng)了(le)一(yī)点(diǎn)糖(táng)，所(suǒ)以(yǐ)汤(tāng)有(yǒu)点(diǎn)少(shǎo)
    I only put in a little sugar, so the soup is a bit lacking.
v
to lack; to be insufficient; to be missing
A verb meaning the amount is less than what is needed or expected.
不够原有或应有的数目；缺少。
Words:
缺少少有缺医少药稀少少见
Synonyms:
罕 缺
Antonyms:
富 足
Sentences:
  1. 这(zhè)份(fèn)报(bào)告(gào)还(hái)缺(quē)少(shǎo)一(yī)些(xiē)重(zhòng)要(yào)的(de)数(shù)据(jù)
    This report still lacks some important data.
  2. 我(wǒ)们(men)公(gōng)司(sī)现(xiàn)在(zài)很(hěn)缺(quē)人(rén)，人(rén)手(shǒu)太(tài)少(shǎo)了(le)
    Our company is very short-staffed right now; we have too few people.
v
to lose; to be missing (an item)
A verb specifically for losing or misplacing something.
丢失；遗失。
Synonyms:
丢 遗
Sentences:
  1. 我(wǒ)好(hǎo)像(xiàng)少(shǎo)了(le)一(yī)本(běn)书(shū)，你(nǐ)看(kàn)见(jiàn)了(le)吗(ma)
    I seem to have lost a book. Have you seen it?
v
to owe; to be in debt (of money or goods)
A verb meaning to owe someone money or something.
亏欠。
Sentences:
  1. 我(wǒ)还(hái)少(shǎo)你(nǐ)五(wǔ)十(shí)块(kuài)钱(qián)，明(míng)天(tiān)给(gěi)你(nǐ)
    I still owe you fifty yuan. I'll give it to you tomorrow.
adv
for a short while; briefly
An adverb indicating a short duration of time. Slightly formal/literary.
副词，短暂地。
Words:
少待少安毋躁少时少顷少等
Synonyms:
稍
Sentences:
  1. 请(qǐng)您(nín)少(shǎo)待(dāi)片(piàn)刻(kè)，经(jīng)理(lǐ)马(mǎ)上(shàng)就(jiù)来(lái)
    Please wait a moment, the manager will be right here.
adv
don't; stop (doing something)
An adverb used in commands or exhortations to tell someone to stop or not do something.
别；不要（多用于命令或祈使）。
Sentences:
  1. 少(shǎo)说(shuō)废(fèi)话(huà)，快(kuài)去(qù)做(zuò)作(zuò)业(yè)
    Stop talking nonsense and go do your homework!
  2. 路(lù)上(shàng)车(chē)多(duō)，你(nǐ)少(shǎo)玩(wán)手(shǒu)机(jī)
    There's a lot of traffic on the road, don't play with your phone so much.

Writing & Component

Radical小
Structuresingle
Stroke Count4
Strokes丨丿丶丿