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

In the following examples both 了解 and 理解 can be used.

• 很～你
• 不～你
• 不太～
• 互相～

To describe a situation in which after much thought and deliberation you grasp an understanding of a principle, a reason, material, a person’s deep inner thoughts or feelings use 理解

Common Phrases

• 不能理解
• 理解不了
• 理解力
• 理解错了
• 表示理解

To describe a situation which uses “to get to know” or “to find out about” “to become aware of how something will work out“ (think “ahh… got you!”) about a condition or a situation use 了解.

Common Phrases

• 了解情况
• 了解一下
• 了解了解