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Word

少数 (shǎo shù) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

少数 (shǎo shù) is a Chinese word: minority; small number; few. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 少数

名 míng noun

minority; small number; few

只有少数人知道这个秘密。

zhǐ yǒu shǎo shù rén zhī dào zhè ge mì mì

Only a minority of people know this secret.

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Word breakdown

少 shǎo — few; little; small (quantity)

Words with this character (9)
Show more (+4)
  • 6 少不了 shǎo bu liǎo — cannot do without HSK 7
    • 少 lacking, less
    • 不 not (negative particle)
    • 了 able to, can (indicates possibility)
    Example

    这个项目少不了你的帮助。

    zhè ge xiàng mù shǎo bu liǎo nǐ de bāng zhù

    This project cannot do without your help.

  • 7 必不可少 bì bù kě shǎo — indispensable HSK 7
    • 必 must, necessarily
    • 不 not, negation
    • 可 can, possible to
    • 少 lack, be without
    Example

    水是生命必不可少的元素。

    shuǐ shì shēng mìng bì bù kě shǎo de yuán sù

    Water is an indispensable element for life.

  • 8 或多或少 huò duō huò shǎo — more or less HSK 7
    • 或 or, perhaps (introduces alternatives)
    • 多 more, much (represents the higher degree)
    • 或 or, perhaps (continues the alternative structure)
    • 少 less, little (represents the lower degree)
    Example

    每个人或多或少都会犯错。

    měi gè rén huò duō huò shǎo dōu huì fàn cuò

    Everyone makes mistakes more or less.

  • 9 稀少 xī shǎo — scarce HSK 7
    • 稀 sparse, thin, scattered
    • 少 few, little, small in quantity
    Example

    这种植物在野外已经很稀少了。

    zhè zhǒng zhí wù zài yě wài yǐ jīng hěn xī shǎo le

    This plant is already very scarce in the wild.

数 shù — number; amount; quantity

Words with this character (23)
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  • 6 数量 shù liàng — quantity HSK 4
    • 数 number, count
    • 量 measure, amount
    Example

    这个仓库里商品的数量很大。

    zhè ge cāng kù lǐ shāng pǐn de shù liàng hěn dà

    The quantity of goods in this warehouse is very large.

  • 7 总数 zǒng shù — total number HSK 5
    • 总 total, overall
    • 数 number, count
    Example

    学生总数超过了一千人。

    xué shēng zǒng shù chāo guò le yì qiān rén

    The total number of students exceeded one thousand.

  • 8 数据 shù jù — data HSK 5
    • 数 number, count (relating to numerical information)
    • 据 basis, evidence (factual information)
    Example

    我们需要收集更多的数据。

    wǒ men xū yào shōu jí gèng duō de shù jù

    We need to collect more data.

  • 9 无数 wú shù — countless HSK 5
    • 无 without, not have
    • 数 number, count
    Example

    天空中有无数颗星星。

    tiān kōng zhōng yǒu wú shù kē xīng xing

    There are countless stars in the sky.

  • 10 岁数 suì shu — age HSK 6
    • 岁 year, age
    • 数 number, count
    Example

    他的岁数不小了。

    tā de suì shu bù xiǎo le

    He's not young anymore.

  • 11 数字化 shù zì huà — to digitize HSK 6
    • 数 number, digit
    • 字 character (forms 'digital' with 数)
    • 化 to transform into, -ize
    Example

    公司正在数字化业务流程。

    gōng sī zhèng zài shù zì huà yè wù liú chéng

    The company is digitizing its business processes.

  • 12 数目 shù mù — number HSK 6
    • 数 number, count, quantity
    • 目 item, entry (suffix indicating countable unit)
    Example

    请告诉我确切的数目。

    qǐng gào su wǒ què qiè de shù mù

    Please tell me the exact number.

  • 13 次数 cì shù — number of times HSK 6
    • 次 time, occurrence
    • 数 number, count
    Example

    这个月我去健身房的次数增加了。

    zhè gè yuè wǒ qù jiàn shēn fáng de cì shù zēng jiā le

    This month the number of times I went to the gym increased.

  • 14 半数 bàn shù — half HSK 7
    • 半 half
    • 数 number, quantity
    Example

    半数学生通过了考试。

    bàn shù xué sheng tōng guò le kǎo shì

    Half of the students passed the exam.

  • 15 大数据 dà shù jù — big data HSK 7
    • 大 big, large-scale, massive (indicating enormous volume)
    • 数 number, count (forms 'data' with 据, contributing the numerical/quantitative aspect)
    • 据 evidence, basis (completes 'data' with 数, contributing the information/evidence aspect)
    Example

    大数据分析可以帮助企业做出更好的决策。

    dà shù jù fēn xī kě yǐ bāng zhù qǐ yè zuò chū gèng hǎo de jué cè

    Big data analysis can help companies make better decisions.

  • 16 招数 zhāo shù — move, trick, tactic HSK 7
    • 招 move, technique (the action or maneuver)
    • 数 method, way (forms a noun suffix)
    Example

    这个武术大师有很多厉害的招数。

    zhè ge wǔ shù dà shī yǒu hěn duō lì hai de zhāo shù

    This martial arts master has many powerful moves.

  • 17 指数 zhǐ shù — index; exponent HSK 7
    • 指 to indicate, to point to
    • 数 number, numerical value
    Example

    这个城市的空气质量指数很高。

    zhè ge chéng shì de kōng qì zhì liàng zhǐ shù hěn gāo

    This city's air quality index is very high.

  • 18 数据库 shù jù kù — database HSK 7
    • 数 number, data
    • 据 according to, basis (forms 'data' with 数)
    • 库 warehouse, repository, storage
    Example

    这个数据库包含了所有客户信息。

    zhè ge shù jù kù bāo hán le suǒ yǒu kè hù xìn xī

    This database contains all customer information.

  • 19 数码 shù mǎ — digital HSK 7
    • 数 number, numerical
    • 码 code, digit
    Example

    我买了一台新的数码相机。

    wǒ mǎi le yì tái xīn de shù mǎ xiàng jī

    I bought a new digital camera.

  • 20 数额 shù é — amount HSK 7
    • 数 number, numerical aspect
    • 额 amount, sum, quota
    Example

    这笔交易的数额很大。

    zhè bǐ jiāo yì de shù é hěn dà

    The amount of this transaction is very large.

  • 21 整数 zhěng shù — integer HSK 7
    • 整 whole, complete
    • 数 number
    Example

    3是一个整数。

    sān shì yí gè zhěng shù

    3 is an integer.

  • 22 未知数 wèi zhī shù — unknown HSK 7
    • 未 not yet, un-
    • 知 known, knowledge
    • 数 number, quantity
    Example

    这个项目的成功还有很多未知数。

    zhè ge xiàng mù de chéng gōng hái yǒu hěn duō wèi zhī shù

    The success of this project still has many unknowns.

  • 23 算数 suàn shù — to count (as valid) HSK 7
    • 算 to count, to consider
    • 数 to count, to matter
    Example

    他说话从来都算数。

    tā shuō huà cóng lái dōu suàn shù

    His words always count.

Structure & writing
1 少 shǎo — few; little (opposite of 多)
Xpinyin
少 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 3
沙 shā sand; tiny stone particles
HSK 4
省 shěng to save; to economize (opposite of 费) 秒 miǎo awn on grain husks
HSK 5
吵 chǎo noisy and chaotic; disturbing 炒 chǎo to stir-fry (cook by stirring ingredients in hot oil in a wok)
HSK 6
劣 liè inferior, bad (opposite of 优) 妙 miào beautiful; fine 抄 chāo to copy (text); to transcribe
HSK 7
渺 miǎo vast and boundless (of water) 纱 shā yarn spun from cotton, hemp, etc., used to twist into thread or weave into cloth 钞 chāo banknote, paper currency

consists of

1.1 小 xiǎo — small; little (opposite of 大)
小 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 1
少 shǎo few; little (opposite of 多)
HSK 3
叔 shū father's younger brother; also a form of address for a man of the same generation as one's father but younger and unrelated (can be reduplicated)
HSK 4
京 jīng capital city of a country 亲 qīn related by blood or marriage; esp. parents 孙 sūn grandchild; relatives of the grandchild's generation 尔 ěr (lit.) you (second-person pronoun) 戚 qi
HSK 6
尖 jiān tip or pointed end of an object 尘 chén dust, flying dirt
HSK 7
隙 xì crack; crevice 雀 què sparrow; small bird with long wings, varies in plumage between sexes, feeds on grains and insects; refers broadly to small birds
1.2 丿 piě — the leftward-falling diagonal stroke in Chinese characters
丿 is a component in 14 characters
HSK 1
么 me suffix 午 wǔ the seventh of the twelve Earthly Branches 少 shǎo few; little (opposite of 多) 系 xì system; interconnected series
HSK 3
必 bì certainly; definitely
HSK 4
乒 pīng onomatopoeia for a gunshot or the sound of objects colliding 失 shī to lose; to be deprived of (opposite of 得) 血 xuè blood (the red fluid circulating in the body, composed of plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets)
HSK 5
乏 fá lacking; without 币 bì currency; money used as a medium of exchange 延 yán to stretch and lengthen; to extend 追 zhuī to chase; to catch up with
HSK 7
勿 wù do not; must not (prohibition or dissuasion) 囱 cōng chimney; flue for stove or boiler

Stroke order

2 数 shù — number; quantity
Xpinyin

数 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 娄 lóu — one of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy
娄 is a component in 5 characters
HSK 2
楼 lóu a floor/storey of a building
HSK 3
数 shù number; quantity
HSK 7
屡 lǚ repeatedly; time and again 搂 lǒu to embrace or hug with both arms 缕 lǚ thread; strand
2.2 攵 pū — light strike/tap radical
攵 is a component in 28 characters
HSK 2
教 jiào to teach; to educate
HSK 3
收 shōu bring in; gather together 放 fàng to release; to set free 故 gù reason; cause 数 shù number; quantity
HSK 4
微 wēi tiny; slight 改 gǎi to revise; to modify 效 xiào effect, function, result 败 bài to lose (a war or competition, opposite of 胜)
HSK 5
政 zhèng politics; affairs of state 敌 dí hostile; antagonistic 敏 mǐn intelligent, quick-witted, agile 救 jiù to help someone out of difficulty, danger, or disaster 敬 jìng to respect, to treat with courtesy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
玫 méi (lit.) a type of beautiful stone or jade 致 zhì to give; to express (courtesy, goodwill, etc.) to someone
HSK 6
撤 chè to remove; to cancel 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend'
HSK 7
徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 敛 liǎn (lit.) to draw in; to hold back 敞 chǎng (of buildings, courtyards, etc.) spacious and open; unobstructed 敦 dūn to urge; to encourage 敷 fū to apply (ointment, powder, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
枚 méi a counter for small objects (similar to 个), one by one 澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 牧 mù to herd (livestock or poultry) outdoors to graze or roam 肇 zhào (class.) to begin; to start 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel

Stroke order