稍 (shāo) — a little, slightly, somewhat
Definition
稍 is a slightly formal 'a little / somewhat', almost always used before an adjective or verb. It is essentially interchangeable with 稍微; 有点儿 feels more colloquial and typically pairs with negatives or complaints.
adverb
a littleslightlysomewhat
Examples
- 稍。Qǐng shāo děng yí xià.Please wait a moment.
- 稍。Zhè jiàn yī fu shāo dà le yì xiē.This piece of clothing is a little too big.
- 稍。Zhè ge cài shāo guì le yì diǎn.This dish is a bit expensive.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
稍 combines 禾 and 肖: 禾 is the part tied to the character's meaning, and 肖 is the part tied to its sound.
Grammar
Appears in
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