adj., v.
Small in number or quantity; a tiny amount. To be few, little, or insufficient; to lack or miss something.
少
Common Usage & Traps
- 很少 — very few; very little
- 少一点 — a little less
- 少吃一点 — eat a little less
- 少五块钱 — five yuan short
-
少人人很少English puts 'few' before a noun, but Mandarin says 人很少 for a simple statement.
-
吃少一点少吃一点English puts 'less' after the action, but Mandarin puts 少 before the action word.
Why is 少人 wrong for 'few people' when 人很少 is right?
少人 sounds wrong; natives put 少 after the noun: 人很少.
English lets you put 'few' before a noun, so 少人 feels logical. Chinese does not use 少 that way for simple statements. To say people are few, start with 人 and then say 很少. If you need 'few people' before another action, 很少人 can work, but 少人 alone is not normal.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| People are few | 人很少。 | 少人。 |
| Few people know | 很少人知道。 | 少人知道。 |
| Word order | 这个地方人很少。 | 这个地方少人。 |
Can 少 mean 'short by' in money, as in 少五块钱?
Yes. 少五块钱 means 'five yuan short', not 'few five yuan'.
Learners first learn 少 as 'few' or 'little'. In money and math talk, 少 can also mean 'be short by'. The pattern is 少 + amount: 少五块钱, 少十块. The amount comes after 少, and the person or thing can come before it.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Short by an amount | 少五块钱。 | 五块钱少。 |
| Person is short | 我少十块。 | 我十块少。 |
| Talking about little money | 钱很少。 | 少钱。 |
Can you put 少 before an action word to mean 'do less', like 少吃一点?
Yes. 少吃一点 means 'eat a little less'; 吃少一点 sounds off.
To tell someone to do less of something, put 少 before the action word. 少吃一点, 少喝一点, and 少说两句 all sound natural. The amount or object can come after the action word. If you put 少 after the action word, it often sounds like a result or comparison, not a direct request.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Eat less | 少吃一点。 | 吃少一点。 |
| Drink less | 少喝一点。 | 喝少一点。 |
| Speak less | 少说两句。 | 说少两句。 |
Appears in Stories 4 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
-
春天和夏天雨水 少 ，温度高的时候，人们也要特别小心森林大火。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
-
他说，我这些年养成的习惯，饭局上 少 吃，特别是不碰荤菜，碰了脑子就不清醒。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
-
由于油炸温度低、时间短，不仅棕榈油不会被“炸坏”，而且方便面中的营养成分损失也比较 少 。
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
-
坐车要九块钱，高先明手里有四块钱， 少 五块钱。
-
高先明看见一个中国同学安小语，也是手里 少 五块钱，不能上车。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!