liu4 liu4 ho2 sou3寥寥可數寥寥可数
Jyutpingliu4 liu4 ho2 sou3
Yalelìuh lìuh hó sou
Definition
Very few in number; so few that they can be easily counted.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary tone, often used in writing or more serious speech to emphasize scarcity. It functions as a predicate adjective and is frequently paired with the particle 咋 to highlight the smallness of the number. While it describes a countable amount, it is rarely used to describe physical objects in front of you, but rather abstract concepts or groups of people.
Examples
There are very few tourists here.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a small physical quantity of items you are currently holding, as it sounds overly dramatic and formal. It is better suited for describing trends, occurrences, or groups of people over a period of time.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
