少 (shǎo) means "few" with 4 strokes, radical 小 (small), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: few
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
The oracle-bone form of 少 is very close to 小: four small dots or short strokes suggesting a scattered handful of tiny things. The extra stroke distinguishing it from 小 is already present in some oracle graphs but inconsistent, and the two characters were likely a single graph in the earliest period. The indicative sense is 'a small quantity' rather than 'small in size'.
Form evolution
Bronze inscriptions show a clearer four-stroke arrangement, with one stroke angled down to the right to differentiate from 小. Seal script fixes this fourth stroke as a long diagonal 丿 sweeping down from the upper right, yielding the shape preserved through clerical and standard script. The modern form retains the three upper dots of 小 plus the distinguishing diagonal.
How the meaning evolved
Originally 'few' or 'a small quantity', 少 developed two readings: shǎo 'few, little' and shào 'young, junior'. The young-person sense arose because youth was conceived as having lived few years, and it survives in 少年, 少爷, and 少将. The verbal use 'to lack' (缺少) is a natural extension of 'few'.
Cultural note
The tone distinction shǎo/shào is a frequent stumbling block: 多少 is 'how much' (shǎo), but 少林 (the temple) is Shàolín. The idiom 少见多怪 ('seeing little, finding much strange') captures the classical link between limited experience and excessive surprise.
Mnemonic
A small amount cut away — few, less
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | shǎo |
| Meanings | few |
| Stroke count | 4 strokes |
| Radical | 小 (#42: small) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1, write by hand at HSK 1-2 |
| Frequency | #230 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 少
Related characters
Similar meaning (abstract)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.