少 Kanji – few
The Japanese kanji 少 can mean few, little.
Meaning and Readings
How is 少 read?
少 has the onyomi reading ショウ and the kunyomi readings すくない, すこし.
In romaji, these readings can be written as shou, sukunai, sukoshi.
Common Japanese Words Using 少
These common Japanese words contain 少. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 希少（きしょう） — scarce, rare
- 減少（げんしょう） — decrease, reduction, decline
- 最少（さいしょう） — fewest, least, smallest (number), lowest, minimum
- 少尉（しょうい） — second lieutenant, sublieutenant, ensign
- 少し（すこし） — a little, a bit, a small amount, a few, some, slightly, somewhat
- 少しずつ（すこしずつ） — little by little, bit by bit
- 少しも（すこしも） — (not) at all, (not) a bit, (not) in the least, (not) in the slightest
- 少ない（すくない） — few, little, small (amount), low, scarce, insufficient, seldom, rare
- 少額（しょうがく） — small sum (of money), small amount
- 少佐（しょうさ） — major, lieutenant commander, wing commander