The Kanji: 少 (Shō / Suku / Suko)
The kanji 少 means "few," "little," or "to decrease." It depicts 小 (small) with an added stroke, emphasizing scarcity or reduction. This character represents both small quantities and the process of diminishing.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 少し (sukoshi) - A little
お金を少し貸してください。
"Please lend me a little money."
2. 少年 (shōnen) - Boy
少年が公園で遊んでいる。
"A boy is playing in the park."
3. 減少 (genshō) - Decrease
人口が減少している。
"The population is decreasing."
4. 少ない (sukunai) - Few/Scarce
時間が少ない。
"There's little time left."
In summary, 少 describes limited quantities (少し, 少ない), demographic groups (少年), and declining trends (減少). It's essential for expressing scarcity and reduction in Japanese.