少

Meanings: few, little On Readings: ショウ shou Kun Readings: すく（ない） suku(nai), すこ（し） suko(shi) Most Used Pronunciation: suku(nai) JLPT Level: 4 (see all JLPT 4 kanji) Grade: 2 Kanji Part: 小 Stroke Number: 4

Level 4 Completion 86 / 103

Common jukugo
少女 - しょう　じょ shou jo - young girl
少年 - しょう　ねん shou nen - boy

Useful Examples
Japanese: この道路は交通が少ない。
Romaji: kono dou ro wa kou tsuu ga sukunai.
Literal: this road as-for traffic is few
English: Traffic is light on this road.

Japanese: その歌を聞くとある少女を思い出す。
Romaji: sono uta o kiku to aru shoujo o omoidasu.
English: The song reminds me of a girl.

Japanese: その少女はいつも母親のあとをついて回っていた。
Romaji: sono shoujo wa itsumo hahaoya no ato o tsuite mawatte ita.
English: The girl was always following her mother.

Japanese: 何人かの少年が教室に入ってきた。
Romaji: nanninka no shounen ga kyoushitsu ni haitte kita.
English: Some boys came into the classroom.

Japanese: 数人の少女が門のそばに立っている。
Romaji: suunin no shoujo ga mon no soba ni tatte iru.
English: Several girls are standing beside the gate.

Japanese: 君はもう少し注意するべきだったのに。
Romaji: kimi wa mou sukoshi chuui suru beki datta no ni.
English: You should have been more careful.

Japanese: 漢字を少し教えてください。
Romaji: kanji o sukoshi oshiete kudasai.
English: Teach me some kanji, please.

Japanese: タクシーを使えば、少なくとも２０００円はかかる。
Romaji: takushi- o tsukaeba, sukunaku to mo 2000 en wa kakaru.
English: It will cost at least 2000 yen to take a taxi.

Japanese: 胃の調子が少々おかしい。
Romaji: i no choushi ga shoushou okashii.
English: Something is the matter with my stomach.

Look alike kanji
小

Notes/Mnemonic
Small is [小] and the line cuts 'small' to fewer pieces

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.