少数

• Pinyin: shǎo shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 少 = 小 (small) with a stroke removed, meaning 'few'; 数 = 娄 (phonetic) + 攵 (strike/action)

Meaning

Minority; a small number. Refers to a small portion of a larger group.

Used to describe a small proportion of people, things, or cases. Often paired with 人 (people) or 民族 (ethnic group). The opposite is 多数 (majority). Common in both everyday speech and formal contexts such as news and policy discussions.

Examples

1. 只有少数人知道这个消息。 Only a minority of people know this news.
2. 少数同学没有参加考试。 A few classmates didn't take the exam.
3. 这是少数人才能做到的事。 This is something only a few people can accomplish.

Usage Guide

Context: description, comparison, formal discussion

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 少数人不同意这个计划。(A minority of people disagree with this plan.)
• 世界上只有少数国家用这种语言。(Only a few countries in the world use this language.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'很少数' (Don't say 很少数 — 少数 already implies 'few'; use 极少数 for stronger emphasis)

Origin & History

少 (shǎo, few) + 数 (shù, number). Literally 'small number,' directly conveying the meaning of a minority or small quantity.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal