siu2 siu2少少
Jyutpingsiu2 siu2
Yalesíu síu
Definition
A little bit; slightly; a small amount.
colloquialdescriptionsdaily actions
How it's used
Use this word to soften the tone of an adjective or to indicate a small, indefinite quantity. It is extremely versatile and can be placed before adjectives, verbs, or nouns to express a mild degree. Unlike formal expressions, it feels natural and friendly in almost any casual interaction.
Examples
I am a little bit tired today and want to go home early.
Could you please get me a little bit of water?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English word few, which usually requires the classifier 啲. For example, say 少少人 instead of just 少少 when referring to a small number of people.
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.
