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-Obj.

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 ，下午 还要 上班 呢 。Shǎo hē diǎn, xiàwǔ háiyào shàngbān ne.Don't drink so much. You're going back to work this afternoon.
• 少 吃 垃圾 食品 。Shǎo chī lājī shípǐn.Eat junk food less.
• 少 废话 ，快 说 吧 。Shǎo fèihuà, kuài shuō ba.Cut the crap. Spill it out.
• 肉 太 贵 了 ，少 点 一些 。Ròu tài guì le, shǎo diǎn yīxiē. Meat is too expensive. Don't order too much.
• 少 买 点 ，吃不完 会 坏 的 。Shǎo mǎi diǎn, chī bù 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.
• 医生 让 我 少 熬夜 ，多 休息 。Yīshēng ràng wǒ shǎo áoyè, duō xiūxi.The doctor told me to stay up less and take more rest.

See also

• Doing something more with "duo"

Sources and further reading

Books

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

HSK4