siu2 zi1 jau6 siu2少之又少
Jyutpingsiu2 zi1 jau6 siu2
Yalesíu jī yauh síu
Definition
Extremely rare; very few and far between.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom functions as an emphatic way to describe scarcity, often used to express surprise or resignation regarding how hard it is to find something. It carries a slightly more literary weight than common colloquial phrases, so it is often used to add a touch of gravity or finality to a statement. It is frequently paired with 係 to form a predicate, emphasizing the rarity of the subject.
Examples
Young people willing to work in this industry nowadays are extremely rare.
The chance of you finding an apartment that cheap is extremely slim.
Related words
Common phrases
the chance is extremely slim
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe a small quantity of something countable, like a few apples, but it is reserved for situations where the existence or occurrence of something is genuinely rare or exceptional.
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.
