few

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 少 appears in words about small quantity or youth; its kun-reading is すくない and its on-reading is しょう.
• Basic usage: 少ない(すくない) means few or little, while 少年(しょうねん) means a boy.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A small quantity and a young age
  • 人が少ない means there are few people, while 荷物が少ない means there is little luggage. 少ない applies to a count of people and an amount of luggage.
  • 一人の少年 refers to one boy. In this expression, 一人 gives the number of people, while 少年 identifies a young male child.