Translation and Meaning of: 少ない - sukunai

The Japanese word 少ない[すくない] is a common term in everyday vocabulary, but it carries interesting nuances for those learning the language. In this article, we will explore its meaning, use in different contexts, and even some tips to memorize it easily. If you've ever wondered how the Japanese express the idea of "few" or "scarce," this guide will clarify your questions in a practical and straightforward way.

Meaning and usage of 少ない

少ない is an adjective that means "few" or "scarce," used to describe reduced quantities of something. Unlike 少し[すこし], which also indicates "a little" but functions as an adverb, 少ない works as a direct description. For example, if someone says "時間が少ない"[じかんがすくない], they are asserting that the available time is insufficient.

This term frequently appears in daily conversations, especially in contexts like work, studies, or even financial planning. Its simplicity makes it versatile, but it's important to note that it is not used for uncountable things, such as liquids – in those cases, expressions like 少し[すこし] or わずか are more appropriate.

Origin and writing of kanji

The kanji 少 is composed of four strokes and represents the idea of "few" or "small." Interestingly, it also appears in words like 少年[しょうねん] ("boy") and 少数[しょうすう] ("minority"). This common root helps to understand why 少ない carries the meaning of scarcity. Although its origin dates back to classical Chinese, its use in modern Japanese is well established.

It's worth noting that the reading すくない is one of the kun'yomi (Japanese readings) of the kanji, while the on'yomi (Chinese reading) is しょう. This duality is common in many characters, but in the case of 少ない, the more commonly used form in daily life is precisely the one with the kun'yomi reading.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to memorize 少ない is to associate it with concrete situations. Think of phrases like "お金が少ない"[おかねがすくない] ("scarce money") or "選択肢が少ない"[せんたくしがすくない] ("few options"). This type of contextualization helps to memorize not only the meaning but also the correct grammatical construction.

Another strategy is to observe the antonym 多い[おおい] ("many"), which often appears in natural contrasts. For example: "この店は客が多いけど、あの店は客が少ない"[このみせはきゃくがおおいけど、あのみせはきゃくがすくない] ("This store has many customers, but that one has few"). This opposition facilitates the assimilation of both terms.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 少なく (sukunaku) - In a concise manner
• 少なめ (sukuname) - A little less than normal
• 少ないです (sukunai desu) - It's little.
• 少ないと思います (sukunai to omoimasu) - I think it's little.
• 少ないと感じる (sukunai to kanjiru) - I feel that it's little.
• 減少している (genshou shite iru) - It's decreasing.
• 不足している (fusoku shite iru) - It is out of stock.
• 足りない (tarinai) - Insufficient, it's not enough
• 少量の (shouryou no) - Small amount of
• 少ししかない (sukoshi shika nai) - There is just a little bit.
• 乏しい (toboshii) - Poor, scarce
• 稀少な (kishou na) - Rare, scarce
• 限られた (karirareta) - Limited
• 制限された (seigen sareta) - Restrictions imposed, limited
• 欠乏している (ketsubou shite iru) - It is in a grace period.
• 不十分な (fujubun na) - Insufficient, inadequate
• 短い (mijikai) - Short, of reduced duration
• 少しの (sukoshi no) - A little bit of
• 少ない方 (sukunai hou) - The smaller part
• 少ない方がいい (sukunai hou ga ii) - It’s better to be less.
• 少ない方がよい (sukunai hou ga yoi) - It is preferable that it be little.
• 少ない場合 (sukunai baai) - In case it is little
• 少ないとき (sukunai toki) - When it's little
• 少ない期間 (sukunai kikan) - Short period
• 少ない数 (sukunai kazu) - Reduced number
• 少ない回数 (sukunai kaisuu) - few times
• 少ない量 (sukunai ryou) - Reduced quantity
• 少ない品目 (sukunai himoku) - Limited articles
• 少ない選択肢 (sukunai sentakushi) - Few options

少ない

Romaji: sukunai
Kana: すくない
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: few; a little; scarce; insufficient; rarely

Meaning in English: few;a little;scarce;insufficient;seldom

Definition: Few: small quantity.

Example Sentences - (少ない) sukunai

See below some example sentences:

人数が少ないです。

Ninsuu ga sukunai desu

The number of people is small.

• 人数 - means "number of people" in Japanese.
• が - is a grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 少ない - is an adjective meaning "little" or "low" in quantity.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.

私の銀行口座の残高は少ないです。

Watashi no ginkou kouza no zandaka wa sukunai desu

My bank account balance is low.

My bank account balance is small.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle indicating possession or relationship between two things.
• 銀行 (ginkou) - Noun that means "bank" in Japanese.
• 口座 (kouza) - Noun that means "account" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle indicating possession or relationship between two things.
• 残高 (zandaka) - Noun that means "balance" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "balance".
• 少ない (sukunai) - Adjective meaning "little" or "low" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - Auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or respectful way of speaking in Japanese.

私の資産は少ないです。

Watashi no shisan wa sukunai desu

My assets are few.

My assets are small.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - possessive particle that indicates ownership, in this case, "my"
• 資産 (shisan) - noun that means "heritage" or "assets"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates what is being discussed, in this case, "heritage"
• 少ない (sukunai) - adjective that means "little" or "scarce"
• です (desu) - verb to be in the present, indicating the existence or condition of something or someone

私の給料は少ないです。

Watashi no kyūryō wa sukunai desu

My salary is small.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 給料 - noun that means "salary"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about"
• 少ない - adjective that means "little", "scarce"
• です - linking verb that indicates the polite and formal form of the present, equivalent to "to be"