Doing something less with "shao"

Often heard when scolding or giving advice (like when parents talk to children) is 少 (shǎo), which can mean "to do less of something."

Structure

Just as you can use 多 to talk about doing something more, you can use 少 to talk about doing something less.

Subj. + 少 + [Verb Phrase]

Note that in English we don't use the word "less" so much. For example, rather than saying "drink less water," we might say "don't drink so much water." In Chinese, though, using 少 is quite natural and common. Avoiding the negative command (telling someone not to do something) is also a subtle way of sounding less bossy and annoying.

Examples

• 我 妈 让 我 少 吃 辣 。Wǒ mā ràng wǒ shǎo chī là.My mother tells me to eat less spicy food.
• 你 应该 少 抽烟 。Nǐ yīnggāi shǎo chōuyān.You should smoke less.
• 少 喝 点 ，明天 还要 上班 呢 。Shǎo hē diǎn, míngtiān háiyào shàngbān ne.Don't drink so much. You need go to work tomorrow.
• 少 吃 垃圾 食品 。Shǎo chī lājī shípǐn.Eat junk food less.
• 少 买 点 ，吃不完 会 坏 的 。Shǎo mǎi diǎn, chī bu wán huì huài de.Don't buy too much. It will go bad if we can't finish eating all.
• 你 能 不 能 让 他 少 放 点 盐 ？Nǐ néng bu néng ràng tā shǎo fàng diǎn yán?Can you tell him to put salt less?
• 少 看 电视 ，多 看书 。Shǎo kàn diànshì, duō kànshū. Watch TV less. Read more.
• 少 废话 ，快 说 吧 。Shǎo fèihuà, kuài shuō ba.Cut the crap. Spill it out.
• 少 管 我 的 事 。Shǎo guǎn wǒ de shì.Stay out of my business.
• 少 做 点 ，孩子们 晚上 不 在家 吃饭 。Shǎo zuò diǎn, háizi men wǎnshang bù zài jiā chīfàn.Cook less. The kids are not eating at home tonight.

See also

• Doing something more with "duo"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 39) →buy

HSK4