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稍稍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
稍稍shāoshāosomewhatHSK 7, unknown, rank #10560, Hard
稍稍shāoshāoa littleHSK 7, unknown, rank #10560, Hard
稍稍shāoshāoslightlyHSK 7, unknown, rank #10560, Hard
shāoshāo(shao1shao1) T1
  1. 1somewhat
  2. 2a little
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March 24, 2026
稍稍()shāoshāo(shao1shao1)

稍稍 (shāo shāo) means 'somewhat,' 'a little,' or 'slightly.' It is often used to indicate a small degree or extent of something, such as a feeling or an action. Common contexts include expressing mild preferences, adjustments, or changes in conditions.

Frequency#10560DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, showing restraint or modesty in expressing desires or opinions is valued, and using terms like 稍稍 reflects this cultural nuance of subtlety.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small shovel (shāo) gently scooping a little bit of sand – this represents 'slightly' or 'a little.' The repetition of the character emphasizes the mildness or slightness, reinforcing the idea of a small amount.

Meanings of 稍稍

shāoshāo(shao1shao1)
1somewhat
2a little
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 稍稍

稍稍Simplified
Traditional
Strokes
Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 稍稍

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Podcast: 稍稍

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AI Study Notes for 稍稍

Quick Contrast

稍微 (shāowēi) - use 稍稍 for a more informal or conversational tone, while 稍微 is slightly more formal.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a small shovel (shāo) gently scooping a little bit of sand – this represents 'slightly' or 'a little.' The repetition of the character emphasizes the mildness or slightness, reinforcing the idea of a small amount.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 稍稍 with 稍微 (shāo wēi), which has a more formal tone and is often used in written language. 稍稍 is more colloquial and can be used in spoken contexts. It's typically used in positive or neutral expressions rather than negative ones.

HSK Study Tips

Although 稍稍 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it can be related to HSK 2 vocabulary like '多 (more)' and '少 (less).' Focus on using it in context with other degree adverbs to build a nuanced understanding of modifications.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, showing restraint or modesty in expressing desires or opinions is valued, and using terms like 稍稍 reflects this cultural nuance of subtlety.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 稍稍 with 稍微, thinking they are interchangeable in all contexts. For instance, saying 稍稍好 (shāo shāo hǎo) is incorrect; instead, use 稍微好 (shāo wēi hǎo) for a more formal context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 稍稍

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Component Characters

shāosomewhat
HSK 412 strokes
View full entry
shāosomewhat
HSK 412 strokes
View full entry

Write 稍稍

Practice writing 稍稍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 稍稍

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, showing restraint or modesty in expressing desires or opinions is valued, and using terms like 稍稍 reflects this cultural nuance of subtlety.

Frequently Asked Questions about 稍稍

It is better to use 稍微 (shāo wēi) in formal writing, as 稍稍 is more colloquial.