Amazing Chinese characters (790) Few - 少

The shell bone script of character Few is

Four grains of sand. We learnt that three grains of sand mean character small or little - 小 (Post 135), right now character Few has four grains of sand. The relationship between them is similar that of small and little in English, similar but some difference. I will talk more in this section.

The bronze script of character Few is

Three small grains of sands, one long curve is not like grain of sand, but it means sand.

The big seal script of character Few is

 

Very similar to bronze script, but the curve one is not very long. Why did ancient Chinese choose a curve one, not all four the same? I think that the curve means the sand is near water, we may think that the curve is water flow, not a grain of sand. Sand is on beach, near or in water. 

 

The small seal script of character Few is 

 

The curve is bent much more, only water flow could be like that.

 

The clerical script of character Few is 
 

Similar to small seal script but the curve live becomes falling left stroke. 

 

Song typeface of character Few is

Similar to clerical script.

 

The Pinyin of character Few is Shao2, or Shao4.

 

When it is Shao2, means few or little. When it is Shao4, means young.