不在少数 (bú zài shǎo shù) — quite a few; not a small number; a considerable amount

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'quite a few' or 'not in the minority' — emphasizes that the number or amount is larger than one might expect. Always used as a predicate.

verb
quite a fewnot a small numbera considerable amount

Examples

  • 不在少数。
    Xiàng tā zhè yàng yǒu jīng yàn de rén zài wǒ men gōng sī bú zài shǎo shù.
    People with experience like him are quite a few in our company.
  • 不在少数。
    Zhī chí zhè ge fāng àn de rén bú zài shǎo shù.
    There are quite a few people who support this plan.
  • ，不在少数。
    Jìn nián lái, xuǎn zé chū guó liú xué de xué shēng bú zài shǎo shù.
    In recent years, a considerable number of students have chosen to study abroad.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

不在not be in
不bùnot在zàibe in
偏正Modifier + head
少数small number
少shǎosmall数shùnumber
偏正Modifier + head

不 'not' + 在 'be in' + 少 'small' + 数 'number' means 'not in a small number,' i.e. quite a few.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 少 is drawn as four dots, perhaps three grains of sand, to indicate a few or a little.

Open 少 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

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