“Few” in Japanese is 少ない (すくない), pronounced sukunai.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Few or little. The opposite of 多い.
Example sentences
- 日曜日は人が少ないです。にちようびはひとがすくないです。There are few people on Sundays.
- お金が少ないです。おかねがすくないです。I don’t have much money.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 少ない. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 少ない すくない | few |
| Polite present | 少ないです すくないです | is few |
| Negative | 少なくないです すくなくないです | isn’t few |
| Past | 少なかったです すくなかったです | was few |
| Past negative | 少なくなかったです すくなくなかったです | wasn’t few |
| て-form | 少なくて すくなくて | few and… |
| Adverb (く) | 少なく すくなく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
What does {{少ない}} mean?
How do you read {{少ない}}?
Which word means “young”?
Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say few in Japanese?
Few in Japanese is 少ない (すくない), pronounced “sukunai”.
How do you write few in Japanese?
It's written 少ない with kanji, or すくない in hiragana. Both are read sukunai.
Is 少ない on the JLPT?
Yes. 少ない (sukunai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.