少しょう量りょう

しょ

う

りょ

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

small amount; small quantity

Used for an amount or quantity that is small. Most common as a noun or before の, as in 少量の水; predicative uses such as 少量だ are also possible.

Antonyms: 多量

鍋なべに少しょう量りょうの水みずを加くわえる。
Add a small amount of water to the pot.
この薬

くすり

は

少しょう

量りょう

で

も

よく

効き

く

。

This medicine works well even in small amounts.

2

noun, na-adjective

narrow-mindedness

Only when written 小量

Rare sense, especially written 小量. In modern Japanese, 狭量 is a much more usual word for a narrow-minded or ungenerous disposition.

古ふるい文ぶん章しょうで「小しょう量りょうな人じん物ぶつ」とあれば、度ど量りょうの小ちいさい人ひとを指さすことがある。
In older writing, 小量な人物 can refer to a narrow-minded person.

Written forms

少しょう量りょうUsage98%
The standard, common spelling for 'a small amount' or 'a small quantity.'
小しょう量りょうUsage2%
A less common spelling for 'small quantity'; the rare sense 'narrow-mindedness' is especially associated with this spelling.

Kanji

少few, little
量quantity, measure, weight
小little, small

Similar words

微び量りょう
Means a very tiny or trace amount; it is often more technical or precise than 少量.
少すこし
A basic everyday adverb or noun meaning 'a little'; 少量 is more noun-like and often used for measured quantities.
多た量りょう
The antonym for the quantity sense, meaning 'a large amount' or 'a large quantity.'
狭きょう量りょう
The normal modern word for 'narrow-minded' or 'intolerant'; it is clearer and more common than rare 小量 in this sense.

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound: 少 means 'few' or 'little,' and 量 means 'amount' or 'quantity.' The spelling 小量 uses 小, 'small,' and is also attested, especially for the rare figurative sense.