极少数

極少數

jíshǎoshù

noun HSK 7-9

Meanings

1 a tiny minority; a very small number
2 an extremely small proportion

Characters

extreme; utmost

Literally 'extreme minority' — 极 intensifies 少数 to emphasize how small the group is.

Examples

只有极少数人能通过这个考试。

Zhǐyǒu jíshǎoshù rén néng tōngguò zhège kǎoshì.

Only a very small number of people can pass this exam.

这种情况属于极少数。

Zhèzhǒng qíngkuàng shǔyú jíshǎoshù.

This kind of situation is extremely rare.

Tips

register

极少数 is a staple of official and political language in China. The phrase 极少数人 (a tiny minority of people) appears constantly in government statements to isolate troublemakers from 'the vast majority' (绝大多数).

Stroke Order

极 jí

少 shǎo

数 shù