多少 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese word 多少 (duōshǎo) is a compound word consisting of two characters: 多 (duō) and 少 (shǎo). Both characters have their own meanings and etymologies.The character 多 (duō) originally meant "many" or "much". It is composed of two parts: the radical 幺 (yāo), which represents a hand, and the phonetic component 多 (duō). The radical 幺 indicates that the character is related to the hand, while the phonetic component 多 provides the pronunciation.The character 少 (shǎo) originally meant "few" or "little". It is composed of two parts: the radical 小 (xiǎo), which represents something small, and the phonetic component 少 (shǎo). The radical 小 indicates that the character is related to something small, while the phonetic component 少 provides the pronunciation.When combined together, the characters 多 (duō) and 少 (shǎo) form the compound word 多少 (duōshǎo), which means "how much" or "how many". It is used to ask questions about quantity or amount. For example, you can say 多少人 (duōshǎo rén) to ask "how many people" or 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián) to ask "how much money".In addition to its literal meaning, 多少 (duōshǎo) can also be used in a figurative sense to mean "more or less" or "to some extent". For example, you can say 多少有点道理 (duōshǎo yǒudiǎn dǎolǐ) to mean "it makes some sense" or 多少有点麻烦 (duōshǎo yǒudiǎn máfan) to mean "it's a bit troublesome".Overall, the Chinese word 多少 (duōshǎo) is a versatile word with a rich history and etymology. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is used frequently in everyday conversation.