少数
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)
少数 (shǎoshù) · few
少数 (shǎoshù) means “few; minority”. It is written with 2 characters: 少 (few) + 数 (to count). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 少数 is built
The characters
少 shǎo · few
What 少 is made of
- 小xiǎo — small
- 亅 — hook
- 八bā — eight
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: Grains of sand; 小 provides the pronunciation and meaning (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
数 shǔ · to count
What 数 is made of
- 娄lóu — a constellation
- 米mǐ — uncooked rice
- 丷ha — kwukyel
- 木mù — tree
- 女nǚ — woman
- 米mǐ — uncooked rice
- 攵pū — to rap
- 乂yì — crossed strokes
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 乂yì — crossed strokes
Origin hint: 攵 gives the meaning, 娄 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
只有少数人知道。Zhǐyǒu shǎoshù rén zhīdao.Only a few people know.
少数同学没来上课。Shǎoshù tóngxué méi lái shàngkè.A few classmates didn't come to class.
Questions about 少数
What does 少数 mean?
少数 (shǎoshù) means “few; minority”.
How do you pronounce 少数?
少数 is pronounced shǎoshù.
Which HSK level is 少数?
少数 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021).
Related words
- 多少duōshaohow many
- 不少bùshǎomany
- 青少年qīngshàoniánteenager
- 少年shàoniánteenager
- 缺少quēshǎoto lack
- 至少zhìshǎoat least
- 减少jiǎnshǎoto reduce
- 少见shǎojiànrare
- 少量shǎoliànga small amount
- 少shǎofew
Learn 少数 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 5: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.