The word 多少 is formed by the direct juxtaposition of two opposing, fundamental adjectives: 多 (duō), meaning "many/much", and 少 (shǎo), meaning "few/little". By combining these antithetical concepts into a single unit, the compound naturally generates an abstract, interrogative sense that inquires about an unknown quantity or degree, essentially asking, "What is the amount, whether it be much or little?" This formation leverages semantic opposition to create a new, holistic meaning greater than the sum of its parts.