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A smaller group compared to the majority, often referring to ethnic, racial, or social groups.
少数民族保留了自己的传统文化。
Minority ethnic groups have preserved their traditional culture.
Can refer to numerical minorities or marginalized groups in society.
A small number or amount.
少数人知道这个秘密。
Only a few people know this secret.
Often used in contexts where the quantity is relatively small.
In formal contexts, 少数 often refers to ethnic or social minorities, while in casual speech, it can mean 'a few' or 'a small number'.
Be mindful of the context to distinguish between 'minority group' and 'small number' meanings.
Composed of 少 (shǎo, 'few') and 数 (shù, 'number'), literally meaning 'few in number'.
Often used in social, political, or statistical contexts to describe groups or quantities that are smaller than the majority.