形 （数量小） few，little，less；动 be short，lack，lose，be missing；副 seldom，a little while，a moment；

[例句] 鲁宾逊咖啡屋里的人正在变少，但也只是渐少而已。 The crowd in Robinson's Coffee-House was thinning, but only by degrees.

[例句] 青少年自杀很少是由于突然发生不幸而作出的冲动反应。 Adolescent suicide is rarely an impulsive reaction to immediate distress.

reduce，decrease，lessen，cut down，abatement ；

[例句] 职位减少后，在职工人总数将减至7,000人。 The job losses will reduce the total workforce to 7,000.

[例句] 他终于纠正了自己的错误说法，提出要减少费用。 He finally corrected his misstatement and offered to reduce the fee.

early youth，juvenile，young person，teen-age youths，gossoon；

[例句] 当那两名男子还击时，袭击他们的少年逃之夭夭。 The teenage attackers fled when the two men fought back.

[例句] 两个少年闯进了琼斯先生的母亲家里行窃。 Two teenagers burgled the home of Mr Jones's mother.

lack，be short of，absence，disappearance，be pressed for ；

[例句] 在公司倒闭后，他手头缺少现金。 He was short of cash after the collapse of his business.

[例句] 麦肯批评说对“区域”一词的含义缺少解释。 McKen criticises the lack of explication of what the term "areas" means.

a small amount，a little，a few，fleabite，bit ；

[例句] 火星的大气层中只含有极少量的水。 The Martian atmosphere contains only tiny amounts of water.

[例句] 加入少量的凉水，将玉米粉搅拌成均匀的糊状。 Blend the cornflour to a smooth paste with a little cold water.

few，rare，scarce，few and far between，exiguity ；

[例句] 公路上车流稀少。 Traffic was sparse on the highway.

[例句] 诚实的政治家不能为金钱所动, 但这样的人却日益稀少. Honest politicians cannot be bought, but they are becoming fewer.

small number，few，minority，fewness，handful ；

[例句] 极少数购房者会注意到他们月还款额的减少。 Precious few homebuyers will notice any reduction in their monthly repayments.

[例句] 少数官员准备篡改规则。 A minority of officers were prepared to bend the rules.

[书] a little，a few，a modicum，crumb，little ；

[例句] 调以盐、胡椒和少许辣椒粉。 Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne.

[例句] 她只在杜松子酒里加了少许苦艾酒。 She added only a hint of vermouth to the gin.

young girl，maid，maiden，girl，lass；

[例句] 过去10年中，少女怀孕的现象不断增多。 Teenage conceptions have risen steadily in the last ten years.

[例句] 她的声音如少女般柔美悦耳。 Her voice was as soft and sweet as a young girl's.

at (the) least，at any rate，at least，at lowest，at the fewest ；

[例句] 每天尽量至少吃4片面包。 Try to eat at least four slices of bread a day.

[例句] 玛丽·安不想要孩子，至少现在不想。 Mary Ann doesn't want to have children. Not right now, anyway.

number，amount，somewhat，more or less；

[例句] 她多少已经预料到他会中途就退出这门课程。 She'd half expected him to withdraw from the course.

[例句] 是这样，不过别忘了他们错过了多少天伦之乐。 Ah yes, but think of all the family life they're missing.

deficient，short，missing，lack ；

[例句] 重量短少五十公克. The weight is 50 grams short.

[例句] 资金的需要额数还短少一百英镑. The fund wants a hundred pounds of the sum needed.

（陆军， 美空军） second lieutenant，（美海军） ensign，（英空军） pilot officer，squadron leader ；

[例句] 身为少尉，他几乎是逢人便得敬礼。 As a second lieutenant, he had to salute damned near everybody.

[例句] 他在擅离部队之前是一名陆军少尉。 He was a second-lieutenant in the army until he deserted.

（主人的儿子） young master of the house，（别人的儿子） your son，childe，master，signorino；

[例句] 很高兴见到您，西蒙少爷。 Nice to see you, Master Simon.

[例句] 我们不是少爷兵, 而是英勇善战的勇士. We are no carpet soldiers, but courageous troops.

[法] delinquenent juvenile，juvenile delinquent，juvenile offender，youthful offenders，[电影]Teenage Wolfpack；

[例句] 地方法官将可以在少年犯送押时提出附加条件。 Magistrates will be able to attach conditions when juveniles are remanded.

[例句] 英国法院渐渐地不再将少年犯送进监狱。 British courts are increasingly moving away from sending young offenders to prison.

young married woman，frail ；

[例句] 我喜欢那个少妇的长相. I like the look of the chick.

[例句] 她是一位非常美丽动人的少妇。 She is a very engaging young woman.

（陆军， 美空军） major general，（海军） rear admiral，（英空军） air vice marshal ；

[例句] 空军少将安德鲁∙伯恩斯 Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Burns

[例句] 陆军少将威廉∙亨特 Major General William Hunt

（陆军， 美空军） major，（海军） lieutenant commander，（英空军） squadron leader ；

[例句] 他看见少校的脸离他自己的只有几英寸. He saw the Major's face a few inches from his own.

[例句] 你知道，战争期间我是一名陆军少校。 I was a major in the war, you know.

understate ；

[例句] “下面，闲话少说，让我来介绍一下我们的赞助人。” "And now, without further ado, let me introduce our benefactor."

[例句] 你们都知道我来这里的目的。所以我就闲话少说了。 You all know why I am here. So I won't waste time on preliminaries.

a small number of people，a few people，the few，the minority ；

[例句] 严格的食谱仅对少数人适用. A strict diet is appropriate for only a few.

[例句] 只有极少数人持这样极端的观点。 Only a tiny minority hold such extreme views.