少(すく)ない

すくない
adjective (i-adjective)
few, little
1. few, little, scarce
Small in number or amount. Used for both countable and uncountable things. The opposite of 多い (おおい - many).
今日(きょう)は人(ひと)が少(すく)ないですね。
There are few people today, aren't there?
お金(かね)が少(すく)ない。
I don't have much money.
Literally: Money is little
時間(じかん)が少(すく)ないので、急(いそ)ぎましょう。
We don't have much time, so let's hurry.
この町(まち)は店(みせ)が少(すく)ないから、買(か)い物(もの)に不便(ふべん)だ。
This town has few shops, so it's inconvenient for shopping.
今月(こんげつ)は雨(あめ)の日(ひ)が少(すく)なかったので、水(みず)が足(た)りなくなった。
There were few rainy days this month, so we ran out of water.

少ない conjugates as an i-adjective: 少なくない (negative), 少なくて (te-form), 少なかった (past). Unlike English 'few' vs 'little', 少ない can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns.

Note: 少ない cannot directly modify nouns like English adjectives - use 少ない + noun or 少しの + noun.

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:01 · Revised 2026.3.5 22:53
01000/01136_sukunai