Chinese word

少不了

Pronunciation

Pinyinshǎo bù liǎo

Meaning

  • verbbe essential

Example

周末聚会，零食少不了。zhōu mò jù huì líng shí shǎo bù liǎo

Snacks are essential at weekend gatherings.

Illustration for 少不了 (be essential)

More examples

学习汉语，练习少不了。xué xí hàn yǔ liàn xí shǎo bù liǎo

Practice is essential for learning Chinese.

Core concept

Something a setting naturally includes, so leaving it out would make the occasion incomplete.

Common phrases

  • 少不了零食shǎo bù liǎo líng shí

    snacks are essential

  • 少不了朋友shǎo bù liǎo péng yǒu

    friends are essential

  • 少不了帮助shǎo bù liǎo bāng zhù

    help is essential

Similar words

离不开lí bù kāi: Be so closely connected to a situation that the usual state cannot continue without it.
依靠yī kào: Count on a person or thing for support, strength, or help in carrying out an action.
依赖yī lài: Need support from a person or thing to maintain normal functioning or a stable condition.

Definition in Chinese

口语中常用来说明某活动或场合中某物或某人总是会出现或被准备好，表示常态上的不可缺少。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng lái shuō míng mǒu huó dòng huò chǎng hé zhōng mǒu wù huò mǒu rén zǒng shì huì chū xiàn huò bèi zhǔn bèi hǎo biǎo shì cháng tài shàng de bù kě quē shǎo

Word origin

The phrase 少不了 (shàobùliǎo, "cannot be lacking") develops from 少 (shǎo, "be few") and 不了 (bùliǎo, "cannot"), a compact way to express that absence is not possible.

Usage tips

  • The pattern can describe either an item or a person, so it is useful for talking about what a situation normally includes when making casual plans.

Other meanings

  • unavoidableverb
  • without failadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word