Meaning
极少 means 'extremely few' or 'very little' and can describe either quantity (very few items) or frequency (rarely happens). It combines 极 (extremely) with 少 (few/little) to emphasize scarcity or rarity. As an adverb, it means something happens very rarely; as an adjective, it describes an extremely small amount.
Usage
极少 is more formal than just saying 少 alone and emphasizes the extreme nature of the scarcity. It commonly appears in written language, news reports, and formal speech. When describing frequency, it's often interchangeable with 很少 but carries a stronger emphasis. Native speakers frequently use it to describe exceptional situations or statistically rare occurrences.
Examples
- 01这种疾病在中国极少见。.This disease is extremely rare in China.
- 02他极少参加社交活动。.He very rarely participates in social activities.
Characters
Common collocations
- 极少数an extremely small number/minority
- 极少有人extremely few people
- 极少见extremely rare to see
Antonyms
Origin
Formed by combining 极 (extreme, reaching a limit) with 少 (few/little), creating an intensified expression that literally means 'extremely few.' This construction follows a common pattern in Chinese of using 极 to amplify adjectives.