Japanese word

少数

Pronunciation

Romajishōsū

Meaning

  • nounsmall number

Example

少数の学生が参加しました。shō sū no gaku sei ga san ka shi ma shi ta

A small number of students participated.

Illustration for 少数 (small number)

More examples

少数の人しかこの方法の効果を知りません。shō sū no hito shi ka ko no hō hō no kō ka o shi ri ma se n

Only a small number of people know how effective this method is.

Core concept

Highlights the limited side of a comparison, whether it concerns an amount or a group of people.

Common phrases

  • 少数に限られるshō sū ni kagi ra re ru

    be limited to a small number

  • 少数の人shō sū no hito

    a small number of people

  • 少数の問題shō sū no mon dai

    a small number of problems

Similar words

若干jakkan: A small number or amount whose exact size is not specified.
少量shōryō: A small amount of a substance or other measurable thing.
少数派shōsūha: The smaller group in a society, organization, or discussion.

Definition in Japanese

全体に対して数がわずかであること。また、数の少ない側の人や物。zen tai ni tai shi te sū ga wa zu ka de a ru ko to ma ta sū no suku na i gawa no hito ya mono

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 少数 (shōsū) is made from 少 (shō, "few") and 数 (sū, "number"), so it denotes a small number within a larger group.

Usage tips

  • The noun 少数 (shōsū) often appears when a speaker contrasts a small group with the larger group around it, so it naturally covers both numbers and minorities.

Other meanings

  • minoritynoun
  • fewnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 少数派shōsūhaminoritynoun
  • 少数者shōsūshaminority membernoun

Word lists with this word