多少

多

duo̅

少

shǎo

number / amount / somewhat

多

duo̅

少

shao

how much? / how many? / (phone number, student ID etc) what number?

Characters and words in 多少

多

duo̅ = du + o1

many; much / too many; in excess / (after a numeral) ... odd / how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. [duo2]) / (bound form) multi-; poly-

多 = 夕 : Mnemonic symbol: Immanuel "Many" Kant.

Many (多) and Doggy Dog (du) have great fun chasing a bat (夕) in front of the observatory (o1). After a while there are two bats (多), and it's not so easy to chase them any more. Suddenly there are more and more (多) bats! Now Many and Doggy Dog experience what it is like to be chased for a change.

少

shǎo = sh + ao3

few / less / to lack / to be missing / to stop (doing sth) / seldom

少 = 丿 + 小 : Mnemonic symbol: 少 looks like a smiley face. There's a food shortage (少) in the aorta, and Sherlock Holmes (sh) and Smiley (少) are looking for food in the living room (ao3). There's only one banana (丿) left. Soon they'll have to eat the many daisies (小) which are growing there.

少

shào = sh + ao4

young