How to write 少 (shǎo) — stroke order
少 (shǎo) means “few, little.” It is written with 4 strokes, and its radical is 小 (xiǎo, “small”). The strokes go 竖, 撇, 点, 撇. Use it right away in a real line: 多少钱？ (Duōshao qián?), “How much is it.”
- Strokes
- 4
- Radical
- 小 (xiǎo, “small”) · Kangxi 42
- Meaning
- few, little
- Traditional
- 少 (same)
Watch it, then trace it
Tap Watch strokes for the order. Tap Trace it and draw each stroke with your finger or mouse.
shǎo
Stroke order, step by step
- 1 竖
- 2 撇
- 3 点
- 4 撇
- Stroke 1 of 4 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top, goes down.
- Stroke 2 of 4 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the top left, goes down.
- Stroke 3 of 4 · 点 diǎn (dot): starts at the top right, goes down to the right.
- Stroke 4 of 4 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the middle right, goes down to the left.
Writing tip
Start with the middle stroke down, then the two dots, then the long sweep to the lower left.
Lines on Hanyuwu with 少
- 多少钱？ Duōshao qián? — How much is it?Here 少 is said shao (shǎo).
Questions
How many strokes does 少 have?
少 has 4 strokes. Start with the middle stroke down, then the two dots, then the long sweep to the lower left.
What is the radical of 少?
The radical of 少 is 小 (xiǎo, “small”), Kangxi radical 42.
How do you pronounce 少?
Shǎo, third tone. In 多少钱 it is said shao.
Is 少 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 少 is written the same way in traditional Chinese.
Printable practice sheet for 少
Stroke animation: Hanzi Writer (MIT). Stroke shapes: Make Me a Hanzi via hanzi-writer-data, derived from Arphic PL fonts, Arphic Public License. Stroke counts: Unihan 17.0.0. Credits and licences