hěn shǎo: 很少 - Rarely, Seldom, Very Few/Little
Quick Summary
Keywords: 很少, hen shao, rarely in Chinese, seldom in Chinese, few in Chinese, not much in Chinese, Chinese adverb of frequency, how to say rarely in Mandarin, 不常 vs 很少, difference between shǎo and hěn shǎo, HSK 2 vocabulary
Summary: Learn how to use 很少 (hěn shǎo) in Mandarin Chinese, a fundamental term meaning 'rarely,' 'seldom,' or 'very few/little.' This comprehensive guide explains its core meaning, character breakdown, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences. Master 很少 to express low frequency and small quantities, and understand the crucial difference between it and similar words like '不常' (bù cháng).
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): hěn shǎo
Part of Speech: Adverb / Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 2
Concise Definition: Rarely; seldom; very few; very little.
In a Nutshell: 很少 (hěn shǎo) is a highly common term used to express that something happens infrequently (rarely) or exists in a small quantity (very few/little). While 很 (hěn) usually means 'very,' in this context it often functions as a natural-sounding intensifier, making the word feel complete. Think of it as the standard way to say “rarely” or “few,” not necessarily “very rarely.”
Character Breakdown
很 (hěn): This character's modern meaning is “very” or “quite.” It's one of the most common adverbs in Chinese, used to intensify adjectives. In many cases, like with 很少, it's almost a grammatical necessity to make the adjective sound natural and complete in a sentence.
少 (shǎo): This character originally depicted four small dots, symbolizing something small or few in number. It means “few,” “little,” “less,” or “a small amount.”
When combined, 很 (hěn) and 少 (shǎo) literally mean “very few” or “very little.” This combination is the standard, natural way to express the concepts of rarity and scarcity in everyday Chinese.
Cultural Context and Significance
While 很少 is a functional word, its usage can reflect cultural values of modesty and indirectness. In Chinese culture, making absolute negative statements can sometimes be seen as too direct or even confrontational.
For instance, if offered a type of food you dislike, instead of saying “我不吃辣” (I don't eat spicy food), a softer and more polite response might be “我很少吃辣” (I rarely eat spicy food). This phrasing leaves social room and is less absolute, which is often preferred in social interactions.
This contrasts with some Western cultures where directness is often valued for its clarity. Using 很少 can be a polite conversational tool, signaling a preference without creating a hard boundary. It’s a subtle way of being agreeable while still communicating your habits or limitations.
Practical Usage in Modern China
很少 is an extremely versatile and common term used in all registers of speech, from casual chats to formal reports.
Describing Frequency of Actions: This is its most common use. It describes how often (or, in this case, how infrequently) someone does something.
Describing Quantity of Nouns: It's also used to state that the number or amount of something is small.
Formality: 很少 is a neutral term, appropriate for any situation. It is neither overly formal nor slang. You can use it with your boss, your friends, or in a written essay.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我爸爸工作很忙，很少有时间休息。
Pinyin: Wǒ bàba gōngzuò hěn máng, hěn shǎo yǒu shíjiān xiūxí.
English: My dad is very busy with work and rarely has time to rest.
Analysis: Here, 很少 modifies a noun phrase (时间 - time), indicating a small quantity of it.
Example 2:
这个城市冬天很少下雪。
Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì dōngtiān hěn shǎo xià xuě.
English: It rarely snows in this city during the winter.
Analysis: A classic example of 很少 describing the low frequency of an event (下雪 - to snow).
Example 3:
他是一个很内向的人，很少说话。
Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè hěn nèixiàng de rén, hěn shǎo shuōhuà.
English: He is a very introverted person and seldom speaks.
Analysis: This example connects a personality trait (内向 - introverted) with a low-frequency action (说话 - to speak).
Example 4:
A: 你经常去电影院吗？ (Nǐ jīngcháng qù diànyǐngyuàn ma?) - Do you often go to the movie theater?
B: 很少去，我更喜欢在家看电影。( Hěn shǎo qù, wǒ gèng xǐhuān zàijiā kàn diànyǐng.) - Rarely. I prefer watching movies at home.
Analysis: Shows how 很少 can be used as a short, direct answer to a question about frequency.
Example 5:
我们班会说西班牙语的人很少。
Pinyin: Wǒmen bān huì shuō xībānyá yǔ de rén hěn shǎo.
English: There are very few people in our class who can speak Spanish.
Analysis: Here, 很少 functions as an adjective describing the number of people (人 - people).
Example 6:
这种老式手机现在很少见了。
Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng lǎoshì shǒujī xiànzài hěn shǎo jiànle.
English: This kind of old-fashioned mobile phone is rarely seen now.
Analysis: The phrase 很少见 (hěn shǎo jiàn) is a common set expression meaning “rarely seen” or simply “rare.”
Example 7:
因为疫情，我最近很少出门。
Pinyin: Yīnwèi yìqíng, wǒ zuìjìn hěn shǎo chūmén.
English: Because of the pandemic, I have rarely gone out recently.
Analysis: This sentence uses a specific time frame (最近 - recently) to qualify the frequency.
Example 8:
他很少对别人发脾气，今天是怎么了？
Pinyin: Tā hěn shǎo duì biérén fā píqì, jīntiān shì zěnmele?
English: He rarely loses his temper with others, what's wrong with him today?
Analysis: This highlights an action that is contrary to someone's usual behavior, expressing surprise.
Example 9:
以前我经常熬夜，但现在为了健康，我很少熬夜了。
Pinyin: Yǐqián wǒ jīngcháng áoyè, dàn xiànzài wèile jiànkāng, wǒ hěn shǎo áoyè le.
English: I used to stay up late often, but now for my health, I rarely stay up late.
Analysis: This sentence contrasts a past habit (经常 - often) with a current one (很少 - rarely).
Example 10:
这个菜太咸了，我很少放这么多盐。
Pinyin: Zhège cài tài xián le, wǒ hěn shǎo fàng zhème duō yán.
English: This dish is too salty, I rarely add this much salt.
Analysis: An example showing 很少 used to describe one's typical actions or habits in a specific context (cooking).
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The biggest point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 很少 from similar-sounding terms.
`很少` vs. `不常 (bù cháng)` - The Key Difference
很少 (hěn shǎo): Refers to both low frequency (rarely) and small quantity (few). It emphasizes the smallness of the number.
不常 (bù cháng): Means “not often.” It only refers to frequency. It negates the idea of “often” but doesn't necessarily imply extreme rarity.
Rule of Thumb: If you can replace the word with “very few” or “very little,” you must use 很少. If you can only replace it with “not often,” you should probably use 不常.
Example of Correct Usage:
我不常去上海，大概一年去一次。(Wǒ bù cháng qù Shànghǎi, dàgài yī nián qù yīcì.) - I don't go to Shanghai often, maybe once a year. (This frequency isn't extremely low, so 不常 fits well).
我很少去上海，十年才去过一次。(Wǒ hěn shǎo qù Shànghǎi, shí nián cái qùguò yīcì.) - I rarely go to Shanghai, I've only been once in ten years. (The infrequency is high, so 很少 emphasizes this).
Common Mistake: Using `不常` for quantity.
Incorrect: 喜欢他的人不常。 (Xǐhuān tā de rén bù cháng.)
Correct: 喜欢他的人很少。 (Xǐhuān tā de rén hěn shǎo.) - Very few people like him.
Why it's wrong: 人 (rén - people) is a quantity. You cannot be “not often people.” You can only be “few people.”
少 (shǎo) - The root character meaning “few” or “little.” It's often used in comparisons (e.g., 我的钱比你少 - Wǒ de qián bǐ nǐ shǎo - I have less money than you).
不常 (bù cháng) - Means “not often.” A close synonym for frequency, but not for quantity. It is slightly less emphatic about the rarity than 很少.
偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) - Means “occasionally” or “once in a while.” This implies a higher frequency than 很少.
几乎不 (jīhū bù) - Means “almost never.” This is stronger and more emphatic than 很少, suggesting an action is on the verge of never happening.
难得 (nándé) - Means “rare” in the sense of “hard to come by” or “precious.” It describes a rare opportunity or a valuable occurrence, e.g., 难得的机会 (nándé de jīhuì) - a rare opportunity.
很多 (hěn duō) - The direct antonym of 很少, meaning “a lot,” “many,” or “very much.”
多 (duō) - The direct antonym of 少, meaning “many” or “much.”
经常 (jīngcháng) - A common antonym, meaning “often” or “frequently.”
常常 (chángcháng) - A slightly more informal antonym, also meaning “often.”