JLPT N4 kanji. Readings, meaning, and how the character is built.
少 means few, little. It is a JLPT N4 kanji written in 4 strokes, read すくない or すこし or しょう. It appears in 少し (little / few) and 少ない (a little).
少 is written in 4 strokes, in the order numbered below. Order matters: it is what makes handwriting legible, and it is how the character is looked up in a paper dictionary.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 少し | すこし | little / few |
| 少ない | すくない | a little |
| 多少 | たしょう | more or less / somewhat / to some extent |
少 tends to carry the sound しょう. They carry it; they do not all mean the same thing.
| Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 少 | しょう | few, little |
| 省 | しょう | government ministry, conserve |
| 抄 | しょう | extract, selection |
| 炒 | しょう | broil, parch |
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