Comparing "shao" and "xiao"

Both 少 and 小 can translated to mean “little”. In this sense 少 means “little” as small in quantity or number, while 小 means “little” as small in size or magnitude. Yet, each has distinct uses as 少 can also mean “seldom”, “few”, or “less”, and 小 can also mean “young”, “minor”, or “petty”.

	少 (shǎo, shào)	小 (xiǎo)
Meaning	small (quantity or number), seldom, few, less	small (size or magnitude), young, minor, petty
Part of Speech	adjective	adjective
Formality	flexible	flexible

To say to small (size or magnitude), young, minor, or petty use 小

Common Phrases

• 小孩儿
• 小姑娘
• 小问题
• 小河
• 声音很小
• 雨很小
• 小国
• 小房子

To say to small (quantity or number), seldom, few, or less use 少

Common Phrases

• 少联系