caa1 siu2 siu2差少少
Jyutpingcaa1 siu2 siu2
Yalechā síu síu
Definition
Almost; missing just a little bit, or slightly lacking in quality.
- almost; nearly; missing just a little bit
- slightly bad; a bit poor in quality
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Functioning as both an adverb for near misses and an adjective for low quality, this phrase is extremely versatile. When used to describe quality, it is a polite way to express criticism without being overly harsh. It carries a sense of understatement that is common in local social interactions.
Examples
I almost arrived late.
Related words
Common phrases
a little short on money
a little short on time
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 差唔多, which means almost the same or approximately. While 差少少 implies a narrow margin of failure or a slight deficiency in quality, 差唔多 focuses on similarity in quantity or degree.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
