[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #States-and-Conditions # 少 shǎo few, little ## Components [[小 xiǎo]] [[小 (xiǎo)]] [[丿 (piě)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "少" (shǎo) primarily means "few" or "little," indicating a small quantity or amount. It can also mean "young" when referring to age. Additionally, it can indicate a short period of time. ## History The character "少" is a pictographic character, originally representing a small quantity, similar to "小" (xiǎo). In ancient times, "少" and "小" were often used interchangeably. In oracle bone script, "少" resembled several grains of sand scattered from the sky, also serving as the original character for "沙" (shā - sand). "少" can also mean "slightly" or "a little bit". Nowadays, it primarily indicates a small quantity in contrast to "多" (duō - many), and can also refer to a short period of time, as in "少顷" (shǎo qǐng), meaning "a moment". ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[少 shǎo - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[少 shǎo - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[少 shǎo - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[少 shǎo - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[少 shǎo - reg.svg]]