About
Originally, 少 was the same character as 小 ("small"), depicting four small dots that likely represented grains of sand (沙), giving the meaning "few". Over time, a descending diagonal stroke 丿 was added to the base form of 小 to mark the distinct sense of scantiness or reduction. This visual emphasis on a small quantity underlies its primary adjectival and pronominal uses for "few" or "little". The character later developed a secondary meaning of "young" (youth), drawing on the notion of having accumulated few years.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我很少喝酒。
他少年时很胖。
请少放点糖。
这里人很少。
至少需要五天。
我们减少了浪费。
少数人同意这个计划。
如果你少花点钱，就能存更多。
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