Use this idiom to emphasize that the quantity of something is nearly zero or very sparse.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Describes an extremely small number or quantity.
- Used for people, objects, or abstract concepts.
- Implies that something is scarce or nearly non-existent.
Overview
- 1概览：‘寥寥无几’是一个经典的四字成语，‘寥寥’意为稀少、空旷，‘无几’意为没有多少。合在一起，它极力强调数量的匮乏。 2) 用法模式：该词在句子中表现活跃，既可以作谓语（如：人数寥寥无几），也可以作定语（如：寥寥无几的幸存者），有时也作补语。 3) 常见语境：它广泛应用于正式书面语、新闻报道以及文学作品中。常用来形容观众人数、剩下的资源、成功的机会或某一领域的专家。 4) 词义辨析：与‘屈指可数’相比，‘寥寥无几’更侧重于数量上的‘少’这一事实，语气较为平实；而‘屈指可数’往往带有一种‘虽然少但很珍贵’或‘值得称赞’的情感色彩。与‘凤毛麟角’相比，后者强调的是极其罕见且珍贵，而‘寥寥无几’仅强调数量极低。
Examples
这么晚了，街上的行人寥寥无几。
everydayIt's so late that there are very few pedestrians on the street.
尽管投入了大量资金，但取得的突破性成果寥寥无几。
formalDespite heavy investment, the breakthrough results achieved were very few.
这种老手艺在现代都市里已经寥寥无几了。
informalThis kind of traditional craft is now very scarce in modern cities.
关于该古文明的文字记载寥寥无几，给考古工作带来了巨大困难。
academicWritten records regarding this ancient civilization are extremely scanty, posing great difficulties for archaeological work.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
所剩无几
very little left
寥寥可数
can be counted on one's fingers
Often Confused With
While both mean 'very few', '屈指可数' often implies that the items are noteworthy or valuable enough to be counted, whereas '寥寥无几' is a more neutral description of scarcity.
This idiom emphasizes that something is not just rare but also exceptionally precious and hard to find, like a phoenix feather. '寥寥无几' just focuses on the low count.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
This is a formal idiom suitable for both written and spoken Chinese in serious contexts. It functions as an adjective and can stand alone as a predicate at the end of a sentence. It is more sophisticated than '很少' (hěn shǎo).
Common Mistakes
A common error is using it to describe physical size (smallness) instead of numerical quantity. Additionally, learners sometimes redundantly add '很' or '非常' before it; while common in casual speech, it is technically unnecessary as the idiom already expresses an extreme degree.
Tips
Enhance Formal Writing with Idioms
Replacing simple words like '很少' with '寥寥无几' makes your Chinese sound more sophisticated and precise in academic or professional contexts.
Avoid Redundancy in Quantity Descriptions
Do not use '非常' (very) before '寥寥无几' because the idiom itself already implies an extreme degree of scarcity.
Aesthetic of Scarcity
In Chinese literature, this phrase often evokes a sense of 'Xiao Se' (desolation), reflecting a traditional aesthetic appreciation for solitude and minimalism.
Word Origin
The word 'Liao' (寥) originally meant empty or silent. Doubling it to 'Liao Liao' intensifies the sense of emptiness. 'Wu Ji' (无几) means 'not many'. It has been used in Chinese literature for centuries to describe sparse landscapes or populations.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, the concept of scarcity often carries a weight of preciousness or, conversely, of decline. Using this phrase can evoke a sense of 'loneliness' (孤独感) which is a common theme in classical poetry.
Memory Tip
Visualize the character '寥' (liáo) which sounds like 'lonely' or 'empty'. Imagine a vast empty space where you can only see one or two things—that is 'Liao Liao Wu Ji'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions可以。它常用来形容到场的人数、支持者或某个特定领域的专业人才数量极少。
它通常是一个中性词，主要功能是客观描述数量。但在特定语境下，可能带有遗憾、失落或荒凉的感情色彩。
“寥寥无几”是正式的书面语成语，而“没几个”是口语化的表达。在正式写作中应优先使用前者。
可以。作为定语使用时，后面通常要加“的”，例如“寥寥无几的机会”。
Test Yourself
由于天气恶劣，今天来参加露天音乐会的人___。
语境提到‘天气恶劣’，暗示人数很少，‘寥寥无几’符合语境。
场景选择：
‘寥寥无几’形容数量极少，深夜街道没有行人的情况最符合。
[的人] [坚持到最后] [寥寥无几]
‘坚持到最后的人’是主语，‘寥寥无几’是谓语，描述主语的状态。
Score: /3
Summary
Use this idiom to emphasize that the quantity of something is nearly zero or very sparse.
- Describes an extremely small number or quantity.
- Used for people, objects, or abstract concepts.
- Implies that something is scarce or nearly non-existent.
Enhance Formal Writing with Idioms
Replacing simple words like '很少' with '寥寥无几' makes your Chinese sound more sophisticated and precise in academic or professional contexts.
Avoid Redundancy in Quantity Descriptions
Do not use '非常' (very) before '寥寥无几' because the idiom itself already implies an extreme degree of scarcity.
Aesthetic of Scarcity
In Chinese literature, this phrase often evokes a sense of 'Xiao Se' (desolation), reflecting a traditional aesthetic appreciation for solitude and minimalism.
Examples
4 of 4这么晚了，街上的行人寥寥无几。
It's so late that there are very few pedestrians on the street.
尽管投入了大量资金，但取得的突破性成果寥寥无几。
Despite heavy investment, the breakthrough results achieved were very few.
这种老手艺在现代都市里已经寥寥无几了。
This kind of traditional craft is now very scarce in modern cities.
关于该古文明的文字记载寥寥无几，给考古工作带来了巨大困难。
Written records regarding this ancient civilization are extremely scanty, posing great difficulties for archaeological work.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
大约
B1Used to show that a number or amount is not exact; approximately.
上边
A2above, on top
上面
A1on, above, over
