少 Stroke Order
Animated Stroke Order of 少
Stroke Order Diagrams for 少
Step-by-Step Handwriting Guide for 少
Learn to Write Chinese Characters with Video Tutorials
Watch the video of writing the Chinese character "少", learn the correct stroke order (笔顺) of the character "少", and master the standard way of writing the character "少".
Free Printable Handwriting Practice with Stroke Order: 少
Printable Writing Practice Worksheet of "少" in Portrait Orientation (Tian Zi Ge)
Printable Writing Practice Worksheet of "少" in Landscape Orientation (Tian Zi Ge)
Information of 少
Pinyin
shǎo、 shào
Radical
小
Strokes
4 strokes
Usage
★★★★★
Definition
few / little / lack, young
少 [shǎo]
形 (Adjective)
1. 数量小的，与“多”相对。
- Few; little; less.
- Example: 多少 (many or few); 少量 (small quantity); 少许 (a little).
2. 缺，不够。
- Lack; be deficient; be short of.
- Example: 缺少 (lack of); 减少 (reduce).
3. 不经常。
- Rarely; not often.
- Example: 少有 (seldom); 少见 (rarely seen).
4. 短时间。
- Brief period; short time.
- Example: 少等 (wait a moment); 少候 (wait a while); 少顷 (in a short while).
5. 丢，遗失。
- Lose; be missing.
- Example: 屋里少了东西 (something is missing in the house).
6. 轻视。
- Look down; belittle; despise.
- Example: “且夫我尝闻少仲尼之闻而轻伯夷之义者，如吾弗信，今我睹子之难穷也。” (I have heard those who dismissed the teachings of Confucius and looked down on the righteousness of Boyi, and I cannot believe this now that I see your hardships.)
动 (Verb)
1. 短缺，距原来的要求还差。
- To lack; be deficient; be short of.
- Example: 少不的 (it can't be avoided; unavoidable).
2. 使少，减少;削弱。
- To reduce; weaken.
- Example: 少其力 (reduce its strength); 少废话 (less talking).
3. 轻视，看不起。
- To look down; belittle.
- Example: 相少 (look down on each other).
副 (Adverb)
1. 稍稍，稍微。
- A bit; a little; slightly.
- Example: 太后之色少解 (the color of the Empress Dowager slightly changed).
2. 一会儿。
- In a moment; a little while.
- Example: 请少候 (please wait a moment); 少歇 (rest for a while).
名 (Noun)
1. 幼年。
- Youth; young period.
- Example: 人少，则慕父母 (young people long for their parents).
2. 又指动植物之幼小者。
- Young of animals or plants.
3. 年轻人，与“老”相对。
- Young man; young person.
- Example: 男女老少 (old and young).
4. 年轻时期。
- Young period; youth.
- Example: 自谓少时用心于学甚劳 (I think back to my effort in studying during my youth).
5. 副职;辅佐。
- Deputy; assistant.
- Example: 少正 (a title for a subordinate official).
6. 少爷。
- Young master, especially of a rich family.
- Example: 阔少 (wealthy young man).
7. 姓。
- A surname.
- Example: 少昊, 少正卯 (historical figures).
8. 另见 shǎo.
- See also shǎo.
Overall meanings of 少:
1. Young or youth.
2. Deputy positions in ancient administration.
3. Subordinate or lesser position.
4. Surname.
lit. many monks and not much gruel (idiom) / fig. not enough to go around / demand exceeds supply