Doing something less with "shao"

Often heard when scolding or giving advice (like when parents talk to children) is 少, 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 (shǎo) to talk about doing something less.

Subject + 少 + Verb + Object

Examples

• 废话 少 说！
• 你 应该 少 抽 烟！
• 学 中文 的 学生 需要 少 说 英文。

少 was used this way in one of Deng Xiaoping's most famous sayings: 多干实事，少说空话. Notice he also used 多 as explained in the article Doing something more with "duo".

See also

• Doing something more with "duo"

Sources and further reading

Books

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

HSK4