少 — JLPT N5 Kanji | Nihongo Pass

少

JLPT N5

Kun-yomi (Japanese reading)

すく.ない、すこ.し

On-yomi (Chinese reading)

ショウ

Meaning

Stroke Count

4 strokes

Related Vocabulary

少ない Few / Little 少し A little / A few 少し a little, a bit

📝 How to Remember

With 4 strokes, 「少」is easy to write once you learn the stroke order. Practice writing it 5 times daily until it becomes automatic.

⚠️ Teacher's Note — On-yomi vs Kun-yomi

「少」has both On-yomi (ショウ) and Kun-yomi (すく.ない、すこ.し). On-yomi is typically used in compound words (two kanji together), while Kun-yomi appears when the kanji stands alone or with hiragana.

🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested

もんだい1 (Kanji Reading) & もんだい2 (Kanji Writing)

「少」typically appears in もんだい1, where you choose the correct reading, and もんだい2, where you choose the correct kanji for a hiragana word. Make sure you can recognize it both ways.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do you read the kanji 「少」?+

On-yomi: ショウ. Kun-yomi: すく.ない、すこ.し.

What does 「少」mean in Japanese?+

「少」means "null". It is a JLPT N5 kanji — one of the most essential characters for beginners.

How many strokes does 「少」have?+

「少」is written with 4 strokes.

Is 「少」on the JLPT N5?+

Yes, 「少」is an official JLPT N5 kanji. Knowing all ~110 N5 kanji is essential for passing the exam.

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