尠
at least, not a little
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
- セウ
Kun'yomi
- すくな.い
Meaning
尠 centers on a small amount that is still meaningful: at least a little, not a little. It emphasizes that even a minimal quantity is significant.
Study
Etymology
尠 combines 甚 (very, greatly) with 少 (few, little), suggesting the idea of something being very little yet still present. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning.
Meaning mnemonic
甚 means 'very' or 'extreme', and 少 means 'few' or 'little'. Together they create a paradox: extremely little, yet still something. Picture a tiny drop of water in a vast desert—at least it's not nothing.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine a cent (one hundredth of a dollar) as a tiny amount that is still worth something: cent -> セン, and even a cent is not a little when you have nothing else.