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A2 noun #4,500 most common 10 min read

少なさ

sukunasa Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 少なさ in 30 Seconds

Explanation 少なさ in your Level:

At the A1 level, students learn the adjective 'sukunai' (few/little). While 'sukunasa' (the noun) is slightly more advanced, it is helpful to understand how it is formed. In Japanese, to turn an 'i-adjective' into a noun, you change the final 'i' to 'sa'. A1 learners might not use 'sukunasa' in their own speech often, but they will see it on signs or in simple stories. For example, 'hito no sukunasa' means 'the small number of people'. It's important to remember that this word is a noun, so it acts like 'apple' or 'book' in a sentence. You use the particle 'no' to connect it to other words. If you want to say 'The small number of apples,' you say 'ringo no sukunasa'. This is a building block for describing the world more precisely than just saying 'there are few apples'. Learning this pattern early helps you understand many other Japanese words like 'takasa' (height) or 'atsusa' (heat). Focus on the 'no' particle connection and the '-sa' ending.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'sukunasa' to describe situations more clearly. Instead of just saying 'There is little time,' you can say 'The scarcity of time is a problem.' This level focuses on making comparisons and describing states. You will often use 'sukunasa' with verbs like 'odoroku' (to be surprised) or 'komaru' (to be in trouble). For example, 'Jikan no sukunasa ni odoroku' (I am surprised by the scarcity of time). At A2, you are learning to express your feelings about quantities. 'Sukunasa' allows you to turn a quantity into a topic. It is also useful when you want to compare two things. You might say 'This city's scarcity of parks is sad.' In Japanese: 'Kono machi no kouen no sukunasa wa kanashii desu.' Notice how 'sukunasa' is the main thing you are talking about. You are also learning to recognize the difference between 'sukoshi' (a little bit) and 'sukunasa' (the concept of being few). This distinction is key to reaching the next level of fluency.

For B1 learners, 'sukunasa' becomes an essential tool for more formal and objective communication. At this level, you are moving beyond personal feelings and starting to discuss social issues or work-related topics. You will hear 'sukunasa' in news reports about the 'shoushika' (declining birthrate), where experts discuss 'kodomo no sukunasa' (the small number of children). In business, you might use it to analyze data: 'Uriage no sukunasa no gen'in o shiraberu' (Investigate the cause of the small number of sales). B1 learners should practice using 'sukunasa' as a subject in more complex sentences involving 'ga' or 'wa'. You will also encounter it in literature or essays where the author reflects on the 'scarcity of opportunities' or 'the fewness of words' in a conversation. It is important to distinguish 'sukunasa' from 'fusoku' (shortage). While 'sukunasa' is a neutral description of quantity, 'fusoku' implies that the small quantity is insufficient for a specific purpose. Mastering this nuance shows a higher level of language awareness.

At the B2 level, 'sukunasa' is used with high frequency in professional, academic, and technical contexts. You are expected to use it to frame arguments and provide evidence. For example, in a debate about environmental issues, you might discuss 'shigen no sukunasa' (the scarcity of resources) as a constraint on economic growth. B2 learners should be comfortable using 'sukunasa' in structures like '...no sukunasa yue ni' (because of the scarcity of...) or '...no sukunasa ni kishite' (attributing it to the scarcity of...). You will also notice 'sukunasa' used in more abstract ways, such as 'kanjou no sukunasa' (the lack of emotion) in a person's behavior. At this level, you should also be aware of synonyms like 'kishousei' (rarity/scarcity) and when to choose 'sukunasa' over them. 'Sukunasa' is generally more descriptive of the physical count, while 'kishousei' is more about the value derived from that count. Your ability to use 'sukunasa' to create concise, noun-heavy sentences will make your written Japanese sound more sophisticated and native-like.

C1 learners use 'sukunasa' to navigate complex socio-political discussions and nuanced literary analysis. At this level, the word is often part of a larger nominalized phrase that functions as a sophisticated subject. You might analyze 'Nihon ni okeru josei seijika no sukunasa' (the paucity of female politicians in Japan) in a sociological context. The word 'sukunasa' here is not just about a number; it represents a systemic condition. C1 students should also explore the rhetorical use of 'sukunasa' to emphasize a point. For instance, 'kotonoha no sukunasa' (the fewness of words) might be used in a literary critique to describe a minimalist writing style. You will also encounter 'sukunasa' in legal or administrative documents where precision is paramount. At this level, you should be able to manipulate the word within various registers, from formal reports to high-level intellectual conversation. You are also expected to understand how 'sukunasa' interacts with various particles and auxiliary verbs to express subtle degrees of certainty or emphasis, such as 'sukunasa sae kanjiru' (I feel even the scarcity).

At the C2 level, 'sukunasa' is a tool for ultimate precision and stylistic flair. You use it to articulate extremely subtle distinctions in quantity and state. A C2 speaker might use 'sukunasa' to describe the 'paucity of evidence' in a complex legal case or the 'scarcity of historical records' from a specific era. In this stage, you are also sensitive to the prosody and rhythm of the sentence, choosing 'sukunasa' when it fits the balance of the phrase better than a verbal construction. You can use it in highly abstract philosophical discussions, such as the 'sukunasa of human existence' in the face of the universe. C2 learners are also fully aware of the historical etymology of the word and how its usage has evolved. You can seamlessly integrate 'sukunasa' into high-level academic writing, using it to define parameters and variables in research. Your mastery allows you to use the word not just for its meaning, but for its ability to condense complex ideas into a single, potent noun. You can also identify and use very rare or archaic synonyms in specific literary contexts to achieve a particular tone.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

少なさ in 30 Seconds

'Sukunasa' is the noun form of 'sukunai', meaning 'scarcity' or 'small quantity'.
It is formed by replacing the final 'i' of the adjective with 'sa'.
It is used to treat the concept of 'being few' as a measurable noun or topic.
Common in formal, academic, and descriptive contexts to highlight lack or deficiency.

The Japanese word 少なさ (sukunasa) is a noun derived from the i-adjective 少ない (sukunai), which means 'few' or 'little' in quantity. By attaching the suffix 〜さ (-sa), the adjective is transformed into an abstract noun representing the degree, state, or quality of being few. In English, this is most accurately translated as 'scarcity,' 'paucity,' 'smallness in number,' or simply 'the fewness' of something. Unlike its counterpart '量' (ryou - quantity) which is neutral, 少なさ inherently focuses on the lack or the limited nature of the subject being discussed. It is used in contexts ranging from casual observations about a small crowd to academic discussions regarding the scarcity of natural resources or historical data. Understanding the suffix 〜さ is crucial for Japanese learners at the A2 level because it allows for the quantification of qualities. While 少ない describes a state (e.g., 'The people are few'), 少なさ allows the speaker to treat that state as a measurable concept (e.g., 'The small number of people is surprising'). This distinction is vital for moving from basic sentences to more complex descriptive structures.

Grammatical Function: As a noun, it can function as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or be modified by other nouns using the particle 'no'.
Semantic Nuance: It emphasizes the 'extent' of the smallness. It is often used when comparing expectations to reality, highlighting a deficiency.

この地域の雨の少なさが、深刻な問題になっています。(The scarcity of rain in this region has become a serious problem.)

In this example, the speaker isn't just saying there is little rain; they are identifying the 'degree of scarcity' as the root cause of a problem. This noun form is frequently paired with verbs like 驚く (odoroku - to be surprised by), 指摘する (shiteki suru - to point out), or 嘆く (nageku - to lament). Culturally, Japanese communication often values precision in expressing lack, especially in formal reports or news broadcasts where 'sukunasa' provides a objective-sounding metric for evaluation.

参加者の少なさにがっかりしました。(I was disappointed by the small number of participants.)

Comparison with -mi: While some adjectives can take '-mi' (like 'kanashimi' for sadness), 'sukunai' almost exclusively takes '-sa' to denote the objective degree of fewness.

情報の少なさが判断を難しくしている。(The lack of information is making the judgment difficult.)

語彙の少なさを補うために、ジェスチャーを使った。(To compensate for the smallness of my vocabulary, I used gestures.)

Common Collocations: Often found with 'odoroku' (be surprised), 'nageku' (lament), or 'shiteki' (point out).

給料の少なさについて話し合った。(We discussed the smallness of our salaries.)

Using 少なさ (sukunasa) correctly requires an understanding of how i-adjectives transform into nouns. The process involves dropping the final 'i' from 'sukunai' and adding 'sa'. This resulting noun is versatile. One of the most common patterns is '[Noun] + no + sukunasa', which translates to 'the scarcity of [Noun]'. This pattern allows the speaker to focus on the 'scarcity' as the topic of the sentence. For example, 'jikan no sukunasa' (the scarcity of time). In a sentence like 'Jikan no sukunasa ga mondai da', the 'scarcity of time' is the subject that 'is the problem'. Without the '-sa' suffix, you would have to say 'Jikan ga sukunai no ga mondai da' (The fact that time is little is a problem), which is also correct but feels slightly more verbal and less conceptual than using the noun 'sukunasa'.

Subject Marker (Ga): Used when 'sukunasa' is performing an action or being the primary focus of a state: 'Kazu no sukunasa ga kimeru' (The smallness of the number decides it).
Object Marker (O): Used when someone is observing or affecting the scarcity: 'Kanshuu no sukunasa o mite, kare wa kanashinda' (Seeing the smallness of the audience, he felt sad).

その計画は、予算の少なさゆえに失敗した。(That plan failed because of the scarcity of the budget.)

In formal writing, 'sukunasa' is preferred over 'sukunai koto' because it sounds more objective and academic. It is also used in comparative structures. You might talk about the 'sukunasa' of one thing compared to another. For instance, 'A-sha no kyuuryou no sukunasa wa, B-sha to wa kura-be mono ni naranai' (The smallness of Company A's salary cannot even be compared to Company B). Here, 'sukunasa' acts as a quantifiable metric.

間違いの少なさが、彼の仕事の質を証明している。(The fewness of mistakes proves the quality of his work.)

With Adverbs: You can modify the noun with adjectives like 'odoroku beki' (surprising): 'Odoroku beki kazu no sukunasa' (A surprising smallness of numbers).

経験の少なさを努力でカバーする。(To cover for the lack of experience with effort.)

チャンスの少なさを理解している。(I understand the scarcity of opportunities.)

In Titles: Often used in news headlines or paper titles: 'Shusseiritsu no sukunasa no gen'in' (Causes of the smallness of the birth rate).

荷物の少なさに驚いた。(I was surprised by how little luggage there was.)

You will encounter 少なさ (sukunasa) in various professional and social environments. In a business meeting, a manager might point out the 'scarcity of resources' (shigen no sukunasa) or the 'small number of sales' (uriage no sukunasa). In these contexts, the word sounds more professional than the adjective form because it frames the issue as a noun, a 'thing' to be addressed. On the news, you often hear it in discussions about demographics—specifically the 'scarcity of children' (kodomo no sukunasa), which is a major social issue in Japan. Weather reports use it to describe the 'scarcity of rainfall' (kouuryou no sukunasa). In educational settings, teachers might comment on the 'scarcity of mistakes' in a student's work to praise them, or the 'scarcity of students' attending a particular lecture.

News Media: Used to report on statistics like birth rates, voter turnout, or available jobs. It provides a formal tone.
Academic Papers: Essential for describing data trends. 'Sample no sukunasa' (The smallness of the sample size) is a common phrase in research limitations.

ニュースでは、若者の投票率の少なさが報じられた。(The news reported on the smallness of the youth voter turnout.)

In daily life, you might hear it when people are comparing things. For example, if you go to a restaurant and the portions are small, you might say to a friend, 'Ryou no sukunasa ni bikkuri shita ne' (We were surprised by the smallness of the portions). It's also used in personal reflections. Someone might lament the 'scarcity of their free time' (jiyuu na jikan no sukunasa). In sports, a commentator might mention the 'scarcity of goals' in a soccer match.

このアプリの機能の少なさには不満があります。(I am dissatisfied with the small number of features in this app.)

Workplace: Used in performance reviews: 'Missu no sukunasa wa hyouka ni ataishimasu' (The smallness of your errors is worthy of praise).

冬の日の出の遅さと、昼の時間の少なさを実感する。(I feel the lateness of the sunrise and the smallness of daylight hours in winter.)

この店のメニューの少なさは、こだわりの証拠だ。(The smallness of this shop's menu is proof of their specialization.)

Social Media: People often post about 'folower no sukunasa' (small number of followers) in a self-deprecating or humorous way.

睡眠時間の少なさが肌に出ている。(The lack of sleep is showing on my skin.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 少なさ (sukunasa) with the adverb 'sukoshi' (a little). 'Sukoshi' is used to modify verbs or adjectives (e.g., 'sukoshi taberu' - eat a little), whereas 'sukunasa' is a noun that describes the quality of being few. You cannot say 'sukunasa taberu'. Another mistake is using 'sukunasa' when the adjective 'sukunai' is more natural. For example, instead of saying 'Tatemono ga sukunai desu' (There are few buildings), a learner might try to force the noun form: 'Tatemono no sukunasa desu'. This sounds like an incomplete thought, equivalent to saying 'It is the fewness of buildings' without any context. Use the noun form only when you are specifically talking about the *degree* or *concept* of the scarcity.

Confusing -sa and -mi: While '-sa' is for objective degree, '-mi' is for subjective feeling. However, 'sukunami' is not a standard word. Always use 'sukunasa'.
Particle Errors: Learners often forget the 'no' particle when connecting 'sukunasa' to another noun. It must be 'A no sukunasa', never 'A sukunasa'.

❌ 友達の少ないさが寂しい。
✅ 友達の少なさが寂しい。(The small number of friends makes me lonely.)

Another common error is mixing up 'sukunasa' with 'mijikasya' (shortness). While 'sukunai' refers to quantity/number, 'mijikai' refers to length/duration. If you want to say a meeting was short, use 'mijikasya'. If you want to say there were few people at the meeting, use 'sukunasa'. Additionally, beginners sometimes confuse 'sukunai' (few) with 'chiisai' (small). 'Chiisai' refers to physical size, while 'sukunai' refers to count or volume. Therefore, 'sukunasa' is the 'scarcity in number', not 'smallness in size'.

❌ 水の少なさをください。
✅ 水を少しください。(Please give me a little water.)

Overcomplication: Don't use 'sukunasa' when a simple negative verb will do. 'Hito ga inai' (There are no people) is often more natural than 'Hito no sukunasa ga hidoi'.

語彙の少なさを嘆いても始まらない。(It's no use lamenting the smallness of your vocabulary.)

間違いの少なさは自信につながる。(The fewness of mistakes leads to confidence.)

Contextual Appropriateness: In very casual speech, '-sa' forms are used less often than in descriptive or formal speech. Overusing it might make you sound like you're writing a report.

残高の少なさを見てため息をついた。(I sighed looking at the smallness of my balance.)

While 少なさ (sukunasa) is a general term for scarcity, several other words might be more appropriate depending on the context. '不足' (fusoku) is very common and means 'shortage' or 'insufficiency'. It is often used for things that are necessary but missing, like 'suimin-fusoku' (lack of sleep) or 'jenzai-fusoku' (shortage of personnel). '欠乏' (ketsubou) is a more formal and stronger word, often translated as 'dearth' or 'extreme scarcity', used for vital resources like 'shokuryou-ketsubou' (food scarcity). '僅少' (kinshou) is an extremely formal term meaning 'very small amount', often used in legal or official documents.

Sukunasa vs. Fusoku: 'Sukunasa' is the *state* of being few. 'Fusoku' is the *problem* of not having enough. You can have a 'sukunasa' of people that is actually a good thing, but 'fusoku' is always negative.
Sukunasa vs. Mare: 'Mare' (rare) refers to frequency or uniqueness. 'Sukunasa' refers to quantity. A rare diamond has 'mare' qualities, but the 'sukunasa' of diamonds makes them expensive.

ビタミンの不足(fusoku)は健康に悪いが、摂取量の少なさ(sukunasa)が原因だ。(Insufficiency of vitamins is bad for health, and the smallness of intake is the cause.)

Another alternative is '希少性' (kishousei), which means 'rarity' or 'scarcity' in an economic sense. This is used when talking about the value of something because it is hard to find. 'Gentei' (limited) is used when something is restricted by rule or design, like a 'limited edition' (gentei-ban). If you want to describe the 'thinness' of a crowd, you might use 'mabara' (sparse).

この地域の人口の少なさは、交通の便の悪さが理由だ。(The smallness of the population in this area is due to poor transportation.)

Comparison: Sukunasa vs. Mijikasya: 'Sukunasa' for countable/uncountable volume. 'Mijikasya' for physical length or time duration.

資源の欠乏(ketsubou)は、争いの火種になる。(The dearth of resources becomes a spark for conflict.)

手間の少なさが、この料理の魅力だ。(The smallness of effort required is the charm of this dish.)

Academic Alternative: 'Kishousei' (scarcity) is specifically used in the context of supply and demand in economics.

情報の僅少(kinshou)さゆえ、推測するしかない。(Because of the extreme scarcity of information, we can only guess.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji '少' is a pictograph representing four small grains of sand or dust, illustrating the concept of 'smallness' or 'fewness'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK sɯᵝkɯᵝnasa

US sɯᵝkɯᵝnasa

Pitch-accent based, not stress-based. The pitch stays relatively level after the initial rise.

Rhymes With

Fukasa (depth) Takasa (height) Atsusa (heat) Omosa (weight) Nagasa (length) Hirosa (width) Hayasa (speed) Tsuyosa (strength)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'u' too strongly (it should be subtle).
Stressing the wrong syllable like English 'su-KUN-asa'.
Confusing the 'sa' suffix with 'sha'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The kanji is simple (JLPT N5), but the noun formation suffix -sa is an N4/A2 concept.

Writing 3/5

Requires understanding of how to drop the 'i' and attach 'sa' correctly.

Speaking 3/5

Using it naturally as a topic instead of the adjective takes practice.

Listening 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'sukunai'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

少ない (sukunai) 少し (sukoshi) 〜さ (suffix)

Learn Next

多さ (oosa) 高さ (takasa) 不足 (fusoku) 欠乏 (ketsubou) 減少 (genshou)

Advanced

希少性 (kishousei) 僅少 (kinshou) 過疎 (kaso) 凋落 (chouraku) 枯渇 (kokatsu)

Grammar to Know

Adjective to Noun with 〜さ

高い (takai) -> 高さ (takasa), 少ない (sukunai) -> 少なさ (sukunasa)

Noun + no + Noun

時間の少なさ (The scarcity of time)

Noun + ni + Emotion Verb

少なさに驚く (To be surprised by the scarcity)

Nominalization for Topics

少なさが問題だ (The scarcity is the problem)

Adverbial use of Sukunaku

少なくとも (At least)

Examples by Level

りんごの少なさにびっくりした。

I was surprised by the small number of apples.

Noun + no + sukunasa + ni + verb.

公園の人の少なさが好きです。

I like the fewness of people in the park.

The noun 'sukunasa' is the object of 'suki'.

本の少なさを心配しました。

I was worried about the small number of books.

'Sukunasa' followed by the object marker 'o'.

水の少なさが問題です。

The scarcity of water is the problem.

'Sukunasa' is the subject of the sentence.

お菓子の少なさに泣きました。

I cried because of the small amount of sweets.

Using 'ni' to show the cause of the emotion.

猫の少なさが寂しい。

The small number of cats is lonely.

'Sukunasa' used with the adjective 'sabishii'.

時間の少なさを感じます。

I feel the scarcity of time.

'Sukunasa' as the object of 'kanjiru' (to feel).

お金の少なさが悲しいです。

The smallness of my money is sad.

Simple subject-predicate structure.

この町のバスの少なさは不便だ。

The scarcity of buses in this town is inconvenient.

'Sukunasa' is the topic marked by 'wa'.

間違いの少なさを褒められた。

I was praised for the smallness of my mistakes.

Passive voice 'homerareta' used with 'sukunasa'.

砂糖の少なさに気づきました。

I noticed the small amount of sugar.

'Kizuiku' (to notice) takes the particle 'ni'.

参加者の少なさが残念でした。

The small number of participants was a pity.

'Zannen' (regret/pity) used to describe 'sukunasa'.

冬の日の少なさを知っています。

I know the smallness of daylight hours in winter.

'Hi' here refers to daylight/sun.

給料の少なさに驚いた。

I was surprised by the smallness of my salary.

Common collocation with 'odoroku'.

チャンスの少なさを理解した。

I understood the scarcity of opportunities.

'Rikai suru' (to understand) used with 'sukunasa'.

情報の少なさが不安です。

The lack of information is making me anxious.

'Fuan' (anxious) describing the state caused by 'sukunasa'.

この計画は予算の少なさがネックだ。

The scarcity of the budget is the bottleneck for this plan.

'Nekku' (bottleneck) is a common business katakana word.

若者の少なさが村の課題です。

The small number of young people is the village's challenge.

'Kadai' (challenge/issue) is a B1 level noun.

睡眠時間の少なさが健康に響く。

The lack of sleep affects one's health.

'Hibiku' (to affect/resonate) used here in a negative sense.

経験の少なさを努力で補う。

To compensate for the lack of experience with effort.

'Oginau' (to compensate/supplement) is a key B1 verb.

雨の少なさが農作に影響した。

The scarcity of rain affected the crops.

'Eikyou suru' (to influence/affect) is standard for this level.

語彙の少なさを痛感している。

I am keenly aware of the smallness of my vocabulary.

'Tsuukan suru' (to feel keenly) is a sophisticated B1 verb.

このアプリの機能の少なさに不満だ。

I am dissatisfied with the small number of features in this app.

'Fuman' (dissatisfaction) used with 'ni'.

ゴミの少なさがこの街の自慢だ。

The small amount of trash is this city's pride.

'Jiman' (pride/boast) describing the 'sukunasa'.

資料の少なさが、研究の限界を示している。

The scarcity of materials shows the limitations of the research.

'Genkai' (limit) and 'shimesu' (to show) are B2 academic terms.

資源の少なさを克服する技術が必要だ。

Technology to overcome the scarcity of resources is necessary.

'Kokufuku suru' (to overcome) is a strong B2 verb.

彼の感情の少なさは、時として誤解を招く。

His lack of emotion sometimes leads to misunderstandings.

'Maneku' (to invite/lead to) used with 'gokai' (misunderstanding).

この地域の雨の少なさは、異常気象のせいだ。

The scarcity of rain in this area is due to abnormal weather.

'Ijou kishou' (abnormal weather) and '...no sei' (due to).

情報の少なさが、パニックを引き起こした。

The scarcity of information caused a panic.

'Hikiokosu' (to cause/trigger) is a common B2 verb.

彼は自分の才能の少なさを嘆いている。

He is lamenting the smallness of his own talent.

'Nageku' (to lament) is a literary/formal verb.

この制度の利用者の少なさが指摘された。

The small number of users of this system was pointed out.

'Shiteki suru' (to point out) in passive form.

証拠の少なさが、裁判の行方を左右する。

The scarcity of evidence will influence the outcome of the trial.

'Sayuu suru' (to influence/sway) is a formal B2 expression.

日本における女性議員の少なさは、喫緊の課題だ。

The paucity of female lawmakers in Japan is an urgent issue.

'Kikkin no kadai' (urgent issue) is a high-level formal phrase.

歴史的文献の少なさが、真実の究明を阻んでいる。

The scarcity of historical documents is hindering the investigation of the truth.

'Kyuumei' (investigation) and 'habamu' (to hinder) are C1 verbs.

語彙の少なさが思考の幅を狭めている可能性がある。

There is a possibility that a small vocabulary is narrowing the scope of thought.

'Shikou no haba' (scope of thought) is an abstract C1 concept.

この映画のセリフの少なさが、観客の想像力を刺激する。

The fewness of lines in this movie stimulates the audience's imagination.

'Shigeki suru' (to stimulate) used with 'souzou-ryoku'.

供給の少なさが価格の高騰を招いている。

The scarcity of supply is leading to a surge in prices.

'Koutou' (surge/soar) is a C1 economic term.

バリエーションの少なさが、この製品の弱点である。

The lack of variation is the weakness of this product.

'Jakuten' (weakness) used in a formal 'dearu' style.

人口密度の少なさが、この土地の静寂を保っている。

The low population density maintains the silence of this land.

'Seijaku' (silence/stillness) and 'tamotsu' (to maintain).

選択肢の少なさが、彼を絶望させた。

The scarcity of options drove him to despair.

'Zetsubou saseru' (to cause to despair) is a strong emotional phrase.

史料の決定的な少なさが、その時代の解釈を困難にしている。

The decisive scarcity of historical records makes the interpretation of that era difficult.

'Ketteiteki' (decisive) and 'kaishaku' (interpretation) are C2 level.

表現の少なさが、かえってその詩の純粋さを際立たせている。

The fewness of expressions, on the contrary, highlights the purity of the poem.

'Kiwadataseru' (to make stand out/highlight) is a C2 literary verb.

サンプルの少なさに起因する誤差を考慮しなければならない。

Errors resulting from the smallness of the sample size must be considered.

'Kiin suru' (to result from) is highly technical/formal.

この論文は、先行研究の少なさを最大の難点としている。

This paper identifies the scarcity of previous research as its greatest difficulty.

'Senkou kenkyuu' (previous research) is a standard academic term.

彼の人徳の少なさが、周囲の離反を招いた。

His lack of personal virtue led to the defection of those around him.

'Jintoku' (personal virtue) and 'rihan' (defection) are advanced kanji terms.

情報の少なさがもたらす不確実性は、計り知れない。

The uncertainty brought about by the scarcity of information is immeasurable.

'Fukakujitsusei' (uncertainty) and 'hakarishirenai' (immeasurable).

情緒の少なさが、彼の文章を無機質なものにしている。

The lack of emotion makes his writing feel inorganic.

'Joucho' (emotion/sentiment) and 'mukishitsu' (inorganic/dry).

変数の少なさが、このモデルの精度を担保している。

The small number of variables guarantees the accuracy of this model.

'Hensuu' (variable) and 'tanpo suru' (to guarantee/secure).

Common Collocations

人手の少なさ

予算の少なさ

間違いの少なさ

情報の少なさ

雨の少なさ

語彙の少なさ

時間の少なさ

バリエーションの少なさ

経験の少なさ

参加者の少なさ

Common Phrases

〜の少なさに驚く

— To be surprised by the smallness of something.

観客の少なさに驚いた。

〜の少なさを嘆く

— To lament or complain about the scarcity of something.

給料の少なさを嘆く。

〜の少なさを指摘する

— To point out the small number of something.

問題点の少なさを指摘する。

〜の少なさが目立つ

— The smallness of something is conspicuous/noticeable.

若者の少なさが目立つ。

〜の少なさをカバーする

— To cover/compensate for the lack of something.

人手の少なさをカバーする。

〜の少なさが原因で

— Because of the scarcity of something.

情報の少なさが原因で失敗した。

〜の少なさを実感する

— To truly feel/realize the scarcity of something.

体力の少なさを実感する。

〜の少なさに不満を持つ

— To be dissatisfied with the smallness of something.

手当の少なさに不満を持つ。

〜の少なさがメリットだ

— The smallness of something is an advantage.

手間の少なさがメリットだ。

〜の少なさを誇る

— To be proud of the smallness (e.g., mistakes).

ミスの少なさを誇る。

Often Confused With

少なさ vs 少し (sukoshi)

'Sukoshi' is an adverb (a little bit). 'Sukunasa' is a noun (scarcity). You cannot use 'sukunasa' to modify a verb directly.

少なさ vs 少なめ (sukuname)

'Sukuname' means 'on the small/few side' and is used as an adjective or noun (e.g., 'Gohan wa sukuname de' - 'A small portion of rice, please').

少なさ vs 不足 (fusoku)

'Fusoku' means a 'shortage' that causes a problem. 'Sukunasa' is just the 'state' of being few.

Idioms & Expressions

"雀の涙 (suzume no namida)"

— Literally 'sparrow's tears', meaning a very tiny amount. Often used with 'sukunasa'.

給料の少なさは雀の涙ほどだ。

Informal

"数えるほど (kazoeru hodo)"

— Only as many as can be counted on one's fingers; very few.

チャンスの少なさは、数えるほどしかない。

Neutral

"微々たるもの (bibitaru mono)"

— Something very insignificant or tiny.

その差の少なさは、微々たるものだ。

Formal

"爪の垢ほど (tsume no aka hodo)"

— Literally 'as much as the dirt under a fingernail', meaning a tiny, insignificant amount.

彼の反省の少なさは、爪の垢ほどもない。

Informal

"氷山の一角 (hyouzan no ikkaku)"

— Tip of the iceberg. Used to say that the visible 'sukunasa' is only a part of a larger whole.

判明したミスの少なさは、氷山の一角だ。

Neutral

"猫の額 (neko no hitai)"

— Literally 'cat's forehead', meaning a very small area.

庭の少なさ（狭さ）は猫の額のようだ。

Informal

"二足三文 (nisoku-sanmon)"

— A dirt-cheap price (reflecting the smallness of value).

価値の少なさゆえに二足三文で売った。

Informal

"焼け石に水 (yakeishi ni mizu)"

— Water on a hot stone; an inadequate amount to help a situation.

この寄付の少なさは、焼け石に水だ。

Neutral

"九牛の一毛 (kyuugyuu no ichimou)"

— One hair from nine oxen; a very small part of a large whole.

私の知識の少なさは、彼に比べれば九牛の一毛だ。

Literary

"大海の一滴 (taikai no itteki)"

— A drop in the ocean.

この予算の少なさは、全体から見れば大海の一滴だ。

Neutral

Easily Confused

少なさ vs 少ない (sukunai)

They share the same root.

'Sukunai' is an adjective (There are few). 'Sukunasa' is a noun (The fewness).

人が少ない (People are few). 人の少なさ (The fewness of people).

少なさ vs 狭さ (semasa)

Both can describe 'smallness'.

'Semasa' is for physical area/space (narrowness). 'Sukunasa' is for count/quantity.

部屋の狭さ (The smallness of the room). 人の少なさ (The fewness of people).

少なさ vs 短さ (mijikasya)

Both can relate to 'little' amounts.

'Mijikasya' is for length or time duration. 'Sukunasa' is for quantity.

足の短さ (Shortness of legs). お金の少なさ (Smallness of money).

少なさ vs 小ささ (chiisasa)

Both mean 'smallness'.

'Chiisasa' is for physical size/scale. 'Sukunasa' is for quantity/number.

箱の小ささ (The smallness of the box). チャンスの少なさ (The scarcity of chances).

少なさ vs 稀 (mare)

Both describe things that aren't common.

'Mare' is an adjective for rarity/frequency. 'Sukunasa' is a noun for quantity.

稀な出来事 (A rare event). 出来事の少なさ (The fewness of events).

Sentence Patterns

[Noun]の少なさに[Verb/Adj]

時間の少なさに困る。(I'm troubled by the lack of time.)

[Noun]の少なさが[Noun]だ

間違いの少なさが自慢だ。(The small number of mistakes is my pride.)

[Noun]の少なさを[Verb]

経験の少なさを補う。(To compensate for the lack of experience.)

[Noun]の少なさが原因で〜

予算の少なさが原因で中止した。(It was cancelled because of the small budget.)

[Noun]の少なさを指摘する

情報の少なさを指摘した。(I pointed out the lack of information.)

[Noun]の少なさに驚かされる

参加者の少なさに驚かされた。(I was surprised by the small number of participants.)

[Noun]の少なさが[Verb]を阻む

資料の少なさが研究を阻む。(The scarcity of materials hinders the research.)

[Noun]の少なさが〜を物語る

言葉の少なさが彼の怒りを物語る。(The fewness of words speaks volumes about his anger.)

Word Family

Nouns

少なさ (sukunasa) - scarcity

少量 (shouryou) - small amount

少数 (shousuu) - minority/small number

Verbs

少なくする (sukunaku suru) - to reduce/make fewer

少なめる (sukunameru) - (rare) to decrease

Adjectives

少ない (sukunai) - few/little

少なめ (sukuname) - a bit few/on the small side

少し (sukoshi) - a little

少しずつ (sukoshizutsu) - bit by bit

少々 (shoushou) - a small amount (formal)

希少 (kishou) - rare

減少 (genshou) - decrease

How to Use It

frequency

Common in both spoken and written Japanese, especially when discussing problems or statistics.

Common Mistakes

水の少なさを飲む。 → 水を少し飲む。
'Sukunasa' is the abstract concept of scarcity, not a physical amount you can consume. Use 'sukoshi' (a little) to modify the verb 'drink'.
友達の少ないさが寂しい。 → 友達の少なさが寂しい。
When adding the suffix '-sa', you must drop the final 'i' from 'sukunai'. 'Sukunai-sa' is grammatically incorrect.
時間の少なさがあります。 → 時間が少ないです。
While 'sukunasa ga arimasu' is technically possible, it sounds very unnatural. Just use the adjective 'sukunai' to state existence.
少なさ人。 → 少ない人 / 人の少なさ。
'Sukunasa' is a noun and cannot modify another noun directly. Use the adjective 'sukunai' or use 'no' to connect them.
給料の少なさを不足している。 → 給料が不足している。
'Fusoku shite iru' (to be insufficient) is a verb. You don't 'insufficient' the 'scarcity'. You just say the thing itself is insufficient.

Tips

The -sa Rule

To turn any i-adjective into a noun, remove the final 'i' and add 'sa'. Sukunai -> Sukunasa. This works for almost all i-adjectives.

Focus on Degree

Use 'sukunasa' when you want to emphasize *how* few something is, rather than just stating that it is few.

Pair with Ni Odoroku

A very common pattern is '[Noun] no sukunasa ni odoroku' (to be surprised by the smallness of [Noun]). Memorize this as a set.

Academic Writing

In essays, use 'sukunasa' to nominalize your sentences. It makes your writing sound more objective and professional.

Expressing Dissatisfaction

Use 'sukunasa ni fuman ga aru' to politely express that you aren't happy with the small amount of something (like salary or portions).

The 'Sa' for Status

Think of the 'sa' suffix as standing for 'Status' or 'Scale'. It tells you the status/scale of the adjective.

Social Issues

When reading news about Japan's population, you will constantly see 'kodomo no sukunasa'. This is a key phrase for understanding social debates.

Sukunasa vs Oosa

Always remember 'sukunasa' (fewness) and its opposite 'oosa' (muchness/abundance). They are the two ends of the quantity scale.

Not an Adverb

Never use 'sukunasa' to mean 'a little bit' in a sentence like 'I want a little bit'. Use 'sukoshi' for that.

Listen for the 'No'

Because 'sukunasa' is a noun, it will almost always be preceded by 'no'. This 'no' is your cue that a descriptive noun is coming.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

'Suku' sounds like 'scoop'. If you only have a 'scoop' of rice, the 'sukunasa' (scarcity) will make you hungry.

Visual Association

Imagine a huge stadium with only three people sitting in it. The 'sukunasa' of the crowd is the main thing you see.

Word Web

少ない (adjective) 少なさ (noun) 少なくない (not few) 少なくとも (at least) 少なめ (a bit few) 減少 (decrease) 少数 (minority) 少量 (small amount)

Challenge

Try to use 'sukunasa' in three sentences today: one about time, one about people, and one about food.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old Japanese word 'suku' (few/small), which is the root of the modern adjective 'sukunai'. The suffix '-sa' is a classical Japanese nominalizer.

Original meaning: The state of being insufficient or small in number.

Japonic

Cultural Context

When discussing the 'sukunasa' of people or money, be careful not to sound overly critical if the situation is sensitive.

English speakers often use 'lack' or 'shortage'. 'Sukunasa' is more like 'the degree of being few'.

The concept of 'Wabi-sabi' celebrates the beauty in the 'sukunasa' (simplicity/scarcity) of form. Demographic reports on 'Shoushika' (declining birthrate). Economic papers on 'Kishousei' (scarcity).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Economic Discussions

資源の少なさ (scarcity of resources)
供給の少なさ (scarcity of supply)
予算の少なさ (scarcity of budget)
求人の少なさ (scarcity of job offers)

Social Issues

子供の少なさ (small number of children)
若者の少なさ (small number of youth)
女性議員の少なさ (small number of female politicians)
医師の少なさ (scarcity of doctors)

Daily Life

時間の少なさ (scarcity of time)
荷物の少なさ (small amount of luggage)
お金の少なさ (small amount of money)
おかずの少なさ (small number of side dishes)

Evaluation/Feedback

ミスの少なさ (small number of mistakes)
手間の少なさ (small amount of effort)
知識の少なさ (small amount of knowledge)
経験の少なさ (lack of experience)

Nature/Geography

雨の少なさ (scarcity of rain)
緑の少なさ (scarcity of greenery)
人口の少なさ (small population)
土地の少なさ (scarcity of land)

Conversation Starters

"この辺りは、お店の少なさが不便だと思いませんか？ (Don't you think the scarcity of shops around here is inconvenient?)"

"最近、自由な時間の少なさを感じていませんか？ (Haven't you been feeling a lack of free time lately?)"

"このプロジェクトの予算の少なさをどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the smallness of the budget for this project?)"

"間違いの少なさを褒められたことはありますか？ (Have you ever been praised for having very few mistakes?)"

"海外に行って、日本の緑の少なさに驚いたことはありますか？ (Have you ever been surprised by the lack of greenery in Japan after going abroad?)"

Journal Prompts

今日の忙しさと時間の少なさについて書いてください。 (Write about today's busyness and the scarcity of time.)

自分の語彙の少なさをどうやってカバーしていますか？ (How do you compensate for the smallness of your vocabulary?)

最近驚いた「物の少なさ」について説明してください。 (Explain a 'smallness of things' that surprised you recently.)

もしお金の少なさが問題でなくなったら、何をしたいですか？ (If the smallness of your money was no longer a problem, what would you want to do?)

日本の社会問題である「子供の少なさ」についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the 'small number of children' in Japanese society?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, 'hito no sukunasa' is a very common way to say 'the small number of people' or 'the small crowd'. It is often used to describe a quiet place or a poorly attended event.

'Sukunasa' focuses on the *degree* or *quality* of being few (scarcity). 'Sukunai koto' focuses on the *fact* that it is few. 'Sukunasa' sounds more like a measurable variable.

No, 'sukunami' is not a standard Japanese word. While some adjectives like 'tanoshimi' or 'kanashimi' use the '-mi' suffix, 'sukunai' only uses '-sa'.

You would say 'suimin jikan no sukunasa' (the smallness of sleep time). However, the more common and natural term is 'suimin-fusoku'.

Yes! For example, 'missu no sukunasa' (the fewness of mistakes) is a very positive thing to be praised for. 'Teman no sukunasa' (the small amount of effort/hassle) is also a positive feature of a product.

It is neutral to formal. It is used in daily conversation to describe things, but it is also very common in formal reports and academic writing.

No. 'Sukunasa' is a noun meaning 'scarcity'. You cannot eat 'scarcity'. You should say 'sukoshi taberu' (eat a little).

Usually 'ga' or 'wa'. For example, 'Sukunasa ga mondai da' (The scarcity is the problem).

Yes, you can say 'mizu no sukunasa' to mean 'the small amount of water' or 'the scarcity of water'.

'Jikan no sukunasa'. This is a very common phrase used when you feel busy or rushed.