少ない

• Reading: すくない
• Romaji: sukunai
• Kanji breakdown: 少 (suku/shou) — few, little, scarce
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.kɯ.na.i/

Meaning

Few; little; scarce; insufficient. Describes a small quantity or number.

An i-adjective that is the antonym of 多い. Like 多い, it is typically used as a predicate (人が少ない) rather than directly before a noun. For prenominal use, 少しの is preferred. Conjugates regularly: 少なくない, 少なかった, 少なくなかった.

Examples

1. この町はお店が少ないです。 There are few stores in this town.
2. 今月はお金が少なくて困っています。 I'm struggling because I have very little money this month.
3. 日曜日の朝は人が少なかったです。 There were few people on Sunday morning.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, descriptions, comparisons

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 少 depicts a small amount, with the four dots suggesting something being divided into tiny portions.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal