Navigation
Grammar Levels
HSK 1
27 points
HSK 2
49 points
HSK 3
92 points
HSK 4
99 points
HSK 5
45 points
Resources
Expressing "do less of" with 少 (shǎo) as an adverb
HSK 3Manner & Method
Suggestion & Advice
Structure
少 + Verb
Explanation
少 used adverbially before a verb tells someone to do something less or to cut back on an activity. It often appears in imperative sentences offering advice or gentle warnings. For example, 少说多做 means "talk less and do more."
Examples
医生说让你少吃甜食。
Yīshēng shuō ràng nǐ shǎo chī tiánshí.
The doctor said you should eat less sugary food.
少玩手机，早点睡觉吧。
Shǎo wán shǒujī, zǎodiǎn shuìjiào ba.
Spend less time on your phone and go to bed early.
少抱怨，多想想解决办法。
Shǎo bàoyuàn, duō xiǎngxiǎng jiějué bànfǎ.
Complain less and think more about solutions.