How to Write 少 (few, little) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 少 (“few, little”), indexed under the 小 (しょう (small)) radical. Practice 少 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 少し (すこし (sukoshi) — a little / few), 少ない (すくない (sukunai) — scarce / few).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (少)
Primary Radical (部首): 小 — しょう (small)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 小
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 少 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すく.ない, すこ.し) when 少 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 少 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 小 (しょう (small)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 小 (しょう (small))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 小.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 少
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 少 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 少 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 少 ("few, little") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 小 (しょう (small)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 少 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 小 (しょう (small)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 少?
For 少 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is すく.ない, すこ.し. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 少 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すく.ない, すこ.し) when 少 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 少 includes 少し (すこし (sukoshi) — a little / few), 少ない (すくない (sukunai) — scarce / few).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 少 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 少 (few, little), start with the 小 (しょう (small)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 少 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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