JLPT N4 · 4 strokes
Kanji 少: "few, little"
The kanji 少 means "few, little". It is written with 4 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N4, read ショウ in on'yomi and すく.ない, すこ.し in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ショウ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
すく.ないすこ.し
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | few, little |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT level | N4 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 2 |
| Frequency rank | 287 of 2,501 |
Common words with 少
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 少しa little; a bit; a small amount; a few · a little while; a short time; a moment; a minute
- 少ないfew; little; small (amount); low
- もう少しencore un peu, un petit peu plus
- 少しでもne serait-ce qu'un peu, même un tout petit peu
- 少女girl (usu. between 7 and 17); young lady · female between 17 and 20 years old (ritsuryō period)
- 少年boy · juvenile; child
- 多少a little; some; somewhat; slightly · amount; quantity; number
- 少しずつlittle by little; bit by bit
- 少々a little; a bit; a small amount; a few · a little while; a short time; a moment; a minute
- ほんの少しjuste un peu, à peine
- 少なくともat least
- 美少女belle jeune fille, jolie fille
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