very few; scarce; sparse
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadjective
very few; very little; scarce; sparse
formalUsed to describe small quantities, often in formal, literary, or written contexts. Frequently appears in set phrases such as 寥寥无几 (very few) and 寥寥可数 (can be counted on one's fingers).
Liáo寥
liáo寥
wú无
jǐ几
de的
guān观
zhòng众
zuò坐
zài在
jù剧
chǎng场
lǐ里
。
Very few audience members sat in the theater.
Cān参
huì会
zhě者
liáo寥
liáo寥
kě可
shǔ数
。
The participants were few and far between.
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Tā他
liáo寥
liáo寥
shù数
yǔ语
，
jiù就
diǎn点
chū出
le了
wèn问
tí题
de的
shí实
zhì质
。
With just a few words, he pinpointed the crux of the issue.
Zhè这
bù部
gǔ古
jí籍
xiàn现
cún存
de的
bǎn版
běn本
liáo寥
liáo寥
wú无
jǐ几
。
Very few editions of this ancient book have survived.