Japanese Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Japanese word
少ない
Pronunciation
Romajisukunai
Meaning
- i-adjectivefew
Example
この町は店が少ないです。ko no machi wa mise ga suku na i de su
There are few shops in this town.
More examples
りんごが少ないです。ri n go ga suku na i de su
There are few apples.
去年より参加者が少ないです。kyo nen yo ri san ka sha ga suku na i de su
There are fewer participants than last year.
Core concept
Describes a quantity as below what is usual or expected, whether it refers to countable things or an amount.
Common phrases
人が少ないhito ga suku na i
few people
店が少ないmise ga suku na i
few stores
Similar words
数少ないkazusukunai: Indicates that only a small number of people or things exist.
Definition in Japanese
物や事の数量・程度が多くなく、わずかである。mono ya koto no sū ryō tei do ga ō ku na ku wa zu ka de a ru
Word origin
少ない (sukunai, "few") is a native Japanese adjective that comes from the older form 少なし (sukunashi, "few").
Usage tips
- English uses few with countable nouns and little with uncountable nouns, but 少ない (sukunai) can cover both patterns in Japanese.