| 少 shǎo |
| little ; few |
| 稀少 xī shǎo |
| 缺少 quē shǎo | |
In oracle bone inscriptions, it was four small vertical dots. This was the original form of 沙. Later, it mainly indicated “not many” and 水 was added to form 沙, sand . In ancient books, 小 was interchangeable with 少. |